Fall is in the air, so it’s time to start netting those ponds to keep out all the falling leaves. At least we’ll start getting some more moderate temperatures to make the pondside experience all the more comfortable. It just so happens that fall also marks the start of the entry period for our Water …
Round Three of the Water Artisans of the Year Awards Read More »
In April 2016, I moved into a new house in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The first thing I did was survey the property for a suitable spot to install a water feature. My family and I tossed around a few ideas to see what we could come up with, like installing a swim pond, a koi pond, …
Pond Construction | Father & Son Create Backyard Pondless Waterfall Read More »
The term “Gosanke” in the koi world refers to the three main varieties: Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke) and Showa Sanshoku (Showa). Although there are more than 100 varieties of koi, these three varieties stand apart from the others for their excellence, perfection and popularity. It is no exaggeration that these varieties are well representative of …
Language of Koi | Gosanke: The Big Three in the Koi World Read More »
Over the past 20 years, a lot has changed in our pond-building business. Some of those changes have made a fairly large impact on our business. One of these is how consumers pay for their pond installations. When we started our pond business in the mid ‘90s, I would meet a water feature customer at their site, design the …
Offering Financing to Pond and Water Feature Customers Read More »
Whether the result of a booming economy, tighter immigration laws or an educational system gone astray, finding qualified pond construction job applicants has become increasingly more difficult for those in this industry. Even more troubling for smaller businesses is the question of how they can compete for badly needed, qualified workers. Surprisingly, survey after …
Attracting Quality Pond Construction Workers with Fringe Benefits Read More »
Over time, I have been drawn to the “still-pond” look. Being able to view fish through an undisturbed surface is the main attraction. I’m partial to formal ponds, but this doesn’t mean a garden pond can’t have the same still-pond effect, with a few adjustments. Part 2 of the Series | Drain and Filtration Design …
Best Pond Practices | Drain & Filtration Design for a ‘Still-Pond’ Look Read More »
The leakers represent a serious issue that must be dealt with. They are eroding the chances of us ever being successful. Thankfully, I’m not talking about politics. No, the “leakers” in our industry like to turn dirt into mud. Sometimes they cause certain plants to grow like crazy while the rest of the landscape wilts. …
How to Diagnose, Locate and Effectively Repair Pond Leaks Read More »
Life will find a way, as Jeff Goldblum’s character in Jurassic Park famously said. The need to reproduce is a basic motivation that drives all life on Earth, and modern aquatic plants have demonstrated this better than most of Earth’s other creatures. In fact, they have found several ways, which I’ll shine a light on …
Vivipary | Alternative vegetative reproduction in aquatic plants Read More »
Over the last decade, more than 35 percent of our pond construction contracts have involved remodeling existing ponds. While this is an important statistic that cannot be ignored, the really surprising fact is, we are removing beautiful ponds that have been pressed beyond their limits by their homeowners. One word comes to mind — overstocked! …