Lora Lee has over 25 years of experience in publishing. She purchased POND Trade in 2013 and has been thrilled with her new job ever since. As publisher, she is tasked with a few “minor responsibilities” that include organizing the content schedule, recruiting writers, acquiring articles, selling ads and designing the magazine. In her PPT (Pre-POND Trade) life, Lora Lee worked as an art director, marketing manager and art department supervisor for multiple trade magazines. She spends many hours in her garden and has been featured on garden walks. There is now a pond amidst the flowers. You never knew how much you would enjoy a pond until you have one. Now she can’t imagine life without one. Lora Lee is married and has one son. She lives in the Chicagoland area and her only regret is not being able to enjoy her garden and pond year round!

January/February 2022 Issue

By Lora Lee Gelles / December 29, 2021 / 0 Comments

Another year, come and gone. Instead of thinking ahead about New Year’s resolutions, I’d like to take some time and reflect on 2021. It was certainly a better year than 2020! I think most people can say that. It’s hard to believe that after almost two years, were still in a worldwide pandemic. As we […]

Read More

November/December 2021 Issue

By Lora Lee Gelles / October 31, 2021 / 0 Comments

Like many of you, I love a good formal pond. I first discovered how cool a formal water feature could be after looking through some of last year’s entries in the Water Artisans of the Year contest — specifically the formal features and fountains category. We were blown away by the beauty of so many […]

Read More

Puddle Jumping Water Garden Tour

By Lora Lee Gelles / August 31, 2021 / 0 Comments

I had the pleasure of attending one of this year’s six “Puddle Jumping Water Garden Tours” sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Water Garden Society.   First off, it was great to be out and about seeing pond folks again. I’ve been wanting to attend this water garden tour for a few years. They did […]

Read More

September/October 2021 Issue

By Lora Lee Gelles / August 27, 2021 / 0 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been having a really good summer. It’s the first time since the pandemic that I’ve done some business travel. I popped that mask on, jumped on a plane and flew to Kansas City to visit Powell Gardens with International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society (IWGS) members Susan Davis, […]

Read More

July/August 2021

By Lora Lee Gelles / August 27, 2021 / 0 Comments

Did I get your attention with that headline? I’ll bet I did. Not to worry, I’m not selling or going anywhere, and our editors, Jordan and Grant, are staying put, too. I just wanted to touch on the hot topic — and growing complaint that I keep hearing from many of you — that you […]

Read More

May/June 2021 Issue

By Lora Lee Gelles / April 30, 2021 / 0 Comments

I’m about to get on a bit of a soapbox here, but hang tight and hear me out. POND Trade was hacked about a month ago. Some devious person got into my account and sent out a bogus invoice to many of my advertisers and subscribers. I’m so sorry if you were affected by this! […]

Read More

March/April 2021 Issue

By Lora Lee Gelles / February 27, 2021 / 0 Comments

Well, well, well. We did it again. It’s hard to believe we’re publishing the results of our fifth Water Artisans of the Year contest. It seems like only yesterday that the POND Trade Editorial Committee was finalizing the rules and format of what would become our inaugural contest. And now here we are, celebrating the […]

Read More

January/February 2021 Issue

By Lora Lee Gelles / December 30, 2020 / 0 Comments

As the old saying goes, “Don’t let the door hit your a** on the way out!” I think most of us feel this way about 2020. I must say I’m looking forward to 2021 (hopefully) being a much improved year all-around. Out with the old, and in with the new! It’s been quite the strange […]

Read More

November/December 2020 Issue

By Lora Lee Gelles / October 29, 2020 / 0 Comments

I recently finished up the 2021 media kit that goes out to all our wonderful, supportive advertisers. I always include a taste of some of the upcoming articles planned for the next year while we try to line up all the best authors with the right topics. As I looked back at what we have […]

Read More

September/October 2020 Issue

By Lora Lee Gelles / August 31, 2020 / 0 Comments

I’m so glad to hear that a lot of contractors are really busy during these trying times. Who would have thought that a pandemic would cause many of you to have your busiest year yet? People are definitely more homebound right now, and there’s not many places you can safely go on vacation. What better […]

Read More
Scroll to Top