In my experience, once the water-feature bug bites you, it really gets a hold of you. A perfect example is one of my clients who had me design and build a small water feature in his home. He wanted a simple Zen garden so he could have a quaint space in his yard for meditation. […]
Pond Construction | Forming Five Features Read More »
The beauty of water in the wild is unparalleled. Creators of Japanese gardens attempt to capture the brilliance of water and consider how it will ultimately resonate with the viewer. The Japanese refer to their gardens as Tei-en, which translates as both “wild nature” and “controlled nature,” two opposing characteristics. It is in the exquisite
History and Modern Design of Japanese Gardens Read More »
My dentist told me about Lily. She had a great relationship with Dr. K — we all do — and had been chatting during a checkup about a problem with her pond. A widow, she was at an impasse over what to do about her backyard koi pond, which was leaking badly. For many years
Pond Renovation Tips for Accessibility Read More »
It seems that every nature and landscape photographer seeks out the lake with the reflection of trees or mountains in the water. These are the shots that make for calendar photos that hang on the walls of old-timers like me. Let us consider building our water gardens where they will receive both the shade
Pondside Trees: Pros and Cons of Large Pond Plans Read More »
Creating an airlift system to both circulate water and oxygenate a system at the same time is one of my favorite pond construction techniques. Almost any pond can be built using an airlift system in some fashion, but formal designs lend themselves to airlifts more often than garden designs. Formal ponds are generally located in
Best Practices | Formal Pond Circulation & Oxygenation Read More »
[box]Above is the most recent episode of the Pond Hunter Podcast.[/box] The pond and water garden industry’s constant push to stay relevant in the age of information can be traced back a couple of centuries —all the way back to the physical publishing of articles and books. Pond enthusiasts in the 21st century still love
Pond Hunter Podcast Connects with Enthusiasts Read More »
Summer serves as a great opportunity for pond maintenance. Your clients’ ponds will likely have more problems that require attention, such as algae growth, changing oxygen or pH levels, as well as summer pests and predators. Certain pests will be more of a problem in the warmer months, so it’s important to provide solutions that
Keeping Common Summer Pests Out of Clients’ Ponds Read More »
There is no doubt that we are living in changing times. Some 20 years ago, the modern U.S. pond movement was well underway, escalating in sales and progressive technology. Business empires were built and new manufacturers appeared. Then, about five years ago, the recession took a toll on all businesses, including those in the
Ponds Serve a Role in Water Conservation Read More »
The exciting pond project you see in the pictures below was built in Northamptonshire, U.K. The owners had recently moved from another property, where they had a small pond. But with a much bigger garden surrounding the new home they decided to build a more substantial pond to house their fish. They had a good
Decide Your Priorities, Build Your Best Pond Read More »
Concrete and mortar have been favored by pond construction and fountain builders since the Roman Empire, and the formula has changed little in the past 2000 years. Limestone and clay are mixed, heated and ground to the silky powder we call cement. Concrete is made by adding water, sand and gravel to the cement, while
Pond Construction with Concrete Read More »