It is hard to believe that this is the last issue of 2017. Where has the time gone this year? It seems like we were just wrapping up our overwintering cover story (“Chill Out!” January/February 2017) from last winter. And here we are, bracing for the end of this year’s pond season. Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s take a moment to look back at some pond highlights — for it’s been quite a year!
One of the highlights for me this year was the big reveal of the 2016 Water Artisans of the Year contest winners at the Water Garden Expo in February. I was thrilled to personally congratulate the winners and kick off the new yearly tradition here at POND Trade. With the deadline for the 2017 contest having just passed, I’m looking forward to compiling all the entries and presenting the nominees to this year’s judging panel. We’ll have a full rundown of this year’s winners in the March/April 2018 issue.
We touched on a wide range of topics this year, from lighting and lilies to spillways and shopping tips. Our 2018 editorial calendar is filling up, but as always, we love hearing from our readers about how we can maximize the value of POND Trade.
We are pleased to wrap up 2017 with another jam-packed issue for your reflection, reference and relish. You’ll definitely want to check out 2016 Water Artisan of the Year winner Demi Fortuna’s article about renovating a 40-year-old pond (Pond Renovation Tips for Accessibility). He had to contend with not only the age of the pond, but also some complex accessibility issues in order to restore its beauty.
Also, Kelly Billing is back with a lotus “love story” that might instill in you a greater appreciation for the popular aquatic plant. We were also thrilled to have Kelly’s son Matt as a first-time photo contributor for our IWGS symposium wrap-up.
As the year and pond season come to a close, we are grateful to be a part of such a vibrant and supportive community. Regardless of what else might be going on in the news or our personal lives, it’s comforting to know that the pond and water gardening industry is always here, offering us solace and serenity.
Happy PONDering!
