Publishers’ Perspective
While you’d never know it by looking at the thermometer, the calendar tells me that spring is nearly here! If you live in the northern part of the country, it’s time to dust off your pond-keeping equipment and start making plans for the big thaw. If you live in the southern and western states … well, it’s already GO time! Here in Chicago, the temp has bottomed out in double digits below zero over the last few weeks, so I am itching to get out in my yard and get this party started!
Despite the lack of action in our ponds lately, there’s been no cease in the action here at POND Trade. I’m still wading my way through the flood of responses to Peter Celauro’s controversial story on swim ponds in our last issue (“Pond or Pool?”, Jan/Feb 2014).
While we knew that this debate was “fierce and divisive,” we had no idea how fierce the resulting letters to the editor would be! You can read some of those comments on the facing page. Also, if you’d like to see how that debate continues to unfold, check out the lively “Natural Swimming Pools” discussion on the LinkedIn group called “Water Features Forum.”
For those who are looking for another spicy debate to dive into, be sure to head over to page 39. Kent Wallace has assembled a list of guidelines for the industry that are sure to raise a few eyebrows! It is our goal here at POND Trade to foster discussion and get people thinking, so once you’ve read Kent’s article, jump over to our Facebook page and tell us what you think!
Speaking of spicy topics, Paula Biles is sure to set the mood with her informative piece on the romance of plant propagation. I bet you never realized how much reproduction was happening in your pond! For the construction junkies out there, Jason Lenox is back with the final installment of his series about an enormous project in rural Illinois (pg. 8). And naturalists will want to read “Blackbird Gift Sacs” (pg. 26) to learn more than they ever wanted to know about bird poop.
Business owners will find plenty of great tips in this issue as well. Rick Weidman’s piece on natural pond and lake management (pg. 22) might inspire you to expand your services and expertise, and “The Twitterization of Facebook” (pg. 50) could propel your online presence into the stratosphere — for free!
In the meantime, I’ll be packing my bags for the 2014 Water Garden Expo in Shawnee, Okla. on Feb. 27-28. It’s shaping up to be one heck of a show. If you do decide to come, be sure to stop by my booth and say, “Hi!”
Happy PONDering!
