Paula Biles was diagnosed at an early age with CPO (chronic plant obsession) and after graduate school the condition became severe. The constant compulsion to have growing leaves and muddy hands led to an obvious treatment – water gardening.

Her therapy involved a steady dose of teaching and writing about water gardens and aquatics. Rehabilitation was slow at first, but before long she was lecturing, her articles and photographs were published, plus she was speaking before local and national groups – the perfect remedy for this affliction.

The last components of her successful treatment were to establish a local pond club, work as managing editor of Pondkeeper Magazine (now Pond Biz Magazine), and serve as executive director of the International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society (IWGS), then travel to the Amazon and Thailand.

Paula is married and lives in Bradenton, Florida, where thanks to water gardening, her disease is now in remission.

On a more formal note, Paula belongs to the Garden Writers Association and has been a regular columnist for numerous hobbyist and trade Ponds & Gardens, Nursery Retailer, and Garden Center. Her articles and photographs have appeared countless times in water garden magazines, newspapers, books, and online.