On Aug. 4, 2017, 100 years after the company’s founding, family patriarch Charles B. Thomas officially passed on ownership of the business and grounds to his oldest daughter, Margaret Thomas Koogle, and her spouse, Timothy Koogle.
Mrs. Koogle has been managing the business on her father’s behalf since 1997 and is determined to ensure the family business thrives for another century. “I am humbled and honored to be the fourth-generation owner of Lilypons Water Gardens,” Koogle said.
Lilypons Water Gardens was started in June 1917 by G. Leicester Thomas Sr., under the name Three Springs Fisheries. The company started as a fish hatchery and quickly grew to be one of the largest suppliers of goldfish, shipping fish to stores around the country. Business was so robust that in 1935, the U.S. Postal Service established a post office on-site specifically dedicated to the large volume of mail-order parcels.
Over time, the company took a more botanical path, shifting its focus to water gardening and cultivating waterlilies. In 1978 company president Charles B. Thomas officially changed the name to Lilypons Water Gardens. Now celebrating its 100th year of existence, the company continues to provide beautiful plants and quality pond supplies to customers across the country. In time, Mrs. Koogle intends to expand on service offerings and improve the website’s amenities to enhance its attraction to gardeners and outdoor lovers. She and her dedicated staff looking forward to building on the company’s reputation of excellence and leadership in the industry.
For more information, call 800/999-5459 or visit them online at www.lilypons.com.
