Koi are fancy Japanese carp that are often kept in water gardens to add character and color.
During the winter, the koi in the pool near the Administration Building stop eating and
move very slowly. They will become more active and begin feeding again as
the water temperature rises in spring. Koi, or nishikigoi - Japanese for "brocaded" carp -
were first described in writing from a Chinese book written during the Western Chin Dynasty,
265-316 A.D. Some authorities believe Koi originated in Persia and spread throughout the ancient
world. Some varieties are known for their hardiness, which records claim can live for long periods
of time if simply wrapped in wet moss continuously kept damp.