Author at POND Trade Magazine

Anita Nelson

Anita Nolan Nelson, Horticulturist, has always loved plants, as a child she was fascinated by all the colors, shapes and forms of plants and still is to this day. Although she has done all the accomplishments listed below, Anita is proudest of the fact she has a garden and is still learning and still making mistakes. Co-founder of Nelson Water Gardens & Nursery, Inc., with her husband Rolf Nelson, a specialty garden center in Katy, Texas. Earned B.S. cum laude in Horticulture from University of Maryland in 1978. Founding Member of International Water Lily Society. Guest Lecturer for Horticulture Magazine, American Horticultural Society, and International Water Lily Society on various aspects of Water Gardening from Clear Water to Landscape Design. Has frequently appeared on The New Garden Television Show nationwide on PBS. Teaches courses and workshops at Mercer Arboretum and Houston Arboretum. Speaks frequently to Botanic Gardens, Garden Clubs, and Professional Groups. Articles published in American Nurseryman, Horticulture, Fine Gardening, Water Gardening Magazine, Pondkeeper, North American Gardener, Texas Gardener, Neil Sperry's Gardens n' More, The Water Garden Journal and more. Contributing Editor for Water Gardening Magazine & Pondkeeper Magazine. In 1996 was the Winner of the "Reel American Award" for outstanding Journalism on Environmentally Friendly Lawn Care and Landscaping. Anita lives with her husband Rolf and their four children in Pattison Texas.

IWGS 2018 Symposium Recap

By Anita Nelson / December 28, 2018 / 0 Comments

The 2018 IWGS Symposium was held in San Angelo, Texas, from Sept. 16 to 18. The City of San Angelo could not have been more excited and welcoming to see the IWGS come back to their fair city. Board members and those arriving early were treated to a mini tour of local gardens. Featured on […]

Find New Plants and Design Ideas at the the IWGS 2018 Symposium

By Anita Nelson / July 17, 2018 / 0 Comments

I’ve been a member of the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society (IWGS) since the beginning. We launched the society in fall 1994 at a special party at the home of Charles and Sally Thomas in Buckeystown, Maryland. The featured guest was Gordon Ledbetter, the author of “Water Gardens.” By the next summer, the society […]

Attend the 2018 International Water Garden Symposium and Visit the International Waterlily Collection

By Anita Nelson / June 27, 2018 / 0 Comments

All are invited to the friendly state of Texas for this year’s International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society (IWGS) Symposium from Sept. 13—16, 2018. If you find yourself wondering why this year’s symposium is being held in a somewhat remote town in West Texas, you’re not alone. It’s an area better known for cowboys, ranching […]

Planting a Bog Filter

By Anita Nelson / June 28, 2015 / 21 Comments

Planting a Bog Filter? You don’t have to limit yourself to the plants listed below; these are just guidelines. Experiment and have fun! We’ve grown everything from cacti (yes, cactus!) to annuals to vegetables in our bogs! Most plants seem to like growing in a bog! Related Article | Click here to read “Bog Gravel […]

Bog Gravel Filtration: Water Cleaned by Mother Nature

By Anita Nelson / June 28, 2015 / 104 Comments

I have always been intrigued by the idea of turning waste into a resource, and that is exactly what a bog gravel filter does for you. It turns fish and plant waste into fertilizer (plant food). This plant food is then consumed by the plants growing in the filter. The happy byproducts of this process […]

Where’s the Baby

By Anita Nelson / September 1, 2012 / 0 Comments

Where is the Baby! is a web page hosted by Nelson Water Gardens and Nursery, in Katy, Texas. Addie Nelson, their granddaughter, is pictured here on the pad of a Victoria Lily.

Why Have a Gift Shop and What Sells

By Anita Nelson / July 1, 2012 / 0 Comments

Learn from our industry expert about the ins and outs of having a gift shop as part of your pond store. Anita shares with you eight great reasons why you should have one; what gift items have worked for her; and which have not. She even includes tips about trends, buying, bargains and the big expensive stuff. She wrote this article while working the cash register of her gift shop – thanks Anita!

Plumbing Glazed Pottery Into Fountains

By Anita Nelson / July 1, 2011 / 0 Comments

Would you like a step-by-step, inexpensive technique that makes for a quick and watertight adaptation of glazed pottery into beautiful fountains? Nelson Water Gardens shows you how. Learn how to use a PVC standpipe. It directs a plume of water to the top and provides an easy way to drain the pot in cold weather. Take a look at this easy profitable project idea today.

How–to Disappearing Fountain Installation

By Anita Nelson / July 30, 2009 / 0 Comments

A 14-step guide, with pictures, on how to install a beautiful Disappearing Fountain. Included are tips on pot selection, reservoirs, and how to care for the fountain. Learn from the experts and avoid some of those first time mistakes – don’t learn the hard way. The sound of water is very soothing and adds a lot to the environment – might be a good add-on feature to your existing customers.

Newsletter – What You Need to Know

By Anita Nelson / November 3, 2007 / 0 Comments

Rolf and Anita Nelson owners of Nelson Water Gardens share their thoughts on publishing a newsletter: Have you been considering a newsletter? The following story may help you decide: If there was any doubt whether or not Nelson Water Gardens’ newsletter was working, those doubts were dispelled this past spring. To celebrate our 10th anniversary […]