A career in water has introduced me to many different industries. I am fortunate to have been involved in several of them over time — water features, natural lakes and ponds, and even wastewater — with water flow, filtration and aeration equipment the common factors. Working with water features led me to aquatic plants, and …
Bonsai, ponds and waterfalls go together like peas and carrots. So a couple of years ago when I received a call from a gentleman who said he wanted a koi pond with his bonsai trees in mind, I didn’t think much about it. It turned out, this wasn’t just another bonsai collection. I realized when …
Water in the landscape creates many opportunities for habitat creation and enhancement. After all, the enjoyment that open-water habitats, backyard ponds and water features provide for amphibians, fish, birds and humans alike is well known and at the core of mainstream gardening. A large and often overlooked opportunity can be found in gardening the wet, …
We like to say that anybody can dig a hole and fill it with water. But to master the craft of building water features that function properly with simple maintenance and a proper biological balance, all while exuding a lasting aesthetic beauty — well, it can be a bit more complicated. When I became a …
How to Master the Art of Building Water Features Read More »
This year’s submissions were presented blindly to a panel of seven industry experts to determine winners and runners-up in five categories (Best Pondless, Most Naturalistic, Best Under $15k, Ponds by Night, and Fountains & Formal Features). In order to be considered eligible, projects must have been completed between Nov. 1, 2019 and Nov. 1, 2020. …
Meet the Judges of the Fifth Supreme Stream Court Read More »
In a year that kicked off with an unprecedented sense of optimism, 2020 quickly let us down in a lot of different ways. “Good riddance!” we cried in December, as we bid adieu to a year riddled with isolation, hardship and disappointment. Well, we’ve got good news. 2020 wasn’t all bad. As you will see, …
5th Annual Water Artisans of the Year Contest Results Read More »
So, you’ve just created and built an amazing showcase pond, complete with the best waterfalls and master stonework. Why would you just throw in some random green plants when you could integrate some standout plants and flowers that other installers often overlook? Your water garden will have everyone talking! I find it amazing that some …
Water gardening and the entire experience of having one can become a passion, if not an obsession. It can consume a person’s thinking to the point that some non-water gardeners might question the person’s sanity. (To be clear, we who have this passion would never question it!) So, what makes the hobby so pleasurable? For …
When it comes to ponds, few questions are more common and complicated to answer than “How big should you build?” The potential answers to this daunting question can be endless, depending on what, who, why, where and how. How you approach it can separate the novice or DIY-er from the experienced professional. As professionals, we …
A Homeowner Asks, How Big Should their Water Feature Be? Read More »
While all of us love critters and wildlife, in general, we have to keep pond predators like herons away from our beloved koi and goldfish. This video from Foisy Aquatics provides 10 methods to keep herons away from your pond, and this issue can be a great reason to connect with customers and discuss …