Each year the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society Symposium brings people together around a shared love of water gardens. It’s a place to exchange ideas, learn from one another and spend time immersed in the plants, ponds and landscapes that connect us. This summer, IWGS will bring its annual event to St. Louis, Missouri. […]
Water Gardeners Gather at IWGS in St. Louis August 18–21 Read More »
A long-standing international benchmark The International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society (IWGS) has announced the results of the 2025 New Waterlily Competition (NWC), held for the 27th time since its launch in 1997. Over the past nearly three decades, the competition has generated more than 200 entries and remains one of the most anticipated annual
IWGS announces results of the 2025 New Waterlily Competition Read More »
Planting within and around natural water features and fountainscapes can be one of the most impactful and rewarding phases of any project. Whether contemporary or naturalistic, small or expansive, plants play essential roles in both the function and beauty of a living water ecosystem. Functionally, plants help keep water clean by absorbing nutrients that algae
How Thoughtful Planting Transforms Water Features Read More »
A Deeper Dive With an Awards Writer Awards are rarely urgent. They sit in the background as a feel-good endeavor to get to later. After this job. After the next one. When things slow down. Next year. Without the right processes and mindset, next year often does not come. I have worked with pond builders
What Industry Awards Do for Pond Builders and the Industry Read More »
Introducing the Water Artisan of the Year Awards Committee As the water feature and pond industry continues to evolve, so must the standards that define excellence within it. In an effort to further elevate the integrity, transparency and prestige of the Water Artisan of the Year (WATY) Awards, POND Trade is proud to announce the
The Esteemed Judges of the Water Artisan of the Year Awards As the Water Artisan of the Year Awards continue to elevate the standards of excellence within the water-feature industry, the program is guided by an esteemed panel known as the Supreme Stream Court. This distinguished body is composed of past award recipients, master craftsmen,
Meet the 2025 Supreme Stream Court Read More »
Why mismanaged cattails quietly destroy water quality If you are serious about healthy, clear, low-maintenance lakes, bogs are not optional — they are essential. A properly designed and maintained bog is the closest thing you will ever have to a self-running, self-cleaning water quality system. Most people underestimate them, and that misunderstanding is exactly why
Bogs: The Unsung Powerhouse of Lake Maintenance Read More »
Why Your Team is the Most Important Project You’ll Ever Design Professional pond builders spend a lot of time talking about flow rates, liner durability and the artistry of rock placement. But the most complex ecosystem we will ever build is not made of water and stone. It’s made of people. Many contractors and business
Your Team: The Bedrock of the Build Read More »
If you’ve spent more than a minute around koi ponds (and let’s face it, most pond builders spend way more than a minute), you’ve likely seen graceful koi with long, flowing fins that glide like dancers beneath the water’s surface. These are usually the fish that make clients stop mid-sentence and point. Butterfly koi have
Butterfly Koi: More Than Just Pretty Fins Read More »
There is something universal about water. It draws people in, calms them, and invites them to slow down. That is why ponds, waterfalls and streams resonate so deeply. They are not just features. They are experiences, moments and places people want to be. Yet many pond builders struggle to communicate that experience before a client
Why Quality Pond Photography and Visual Storytelling Matter Read More »