Jim Purcell began growing and retailing pond plants in the spring of 1980, and soon began wholesaling to other retailers. In 1987 he opened Jim’s Water Gardening as a wholesale aquatic nursery, supplying pond plants and supplies throughout the US. Verena Liechti became managing partner in the business a few years ago, and they changed its name to Oregon Aquatics, Inc.

The nursery now covers 7 acres, with over 60,000 square feet of aquatic greenhouses in addition to open ponds. In 2006 they also opened a 10-acre facility in California.

Jim is currently President of the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society. If Jim had any spare time, he would enjoy gardening, hiking and climbing, free diving, and scuba diving.