Welcome to Pondforum. The 2002 season is off to an excellent start, and all indicators are that industry analysts are correct: more and more Americans are discovering the affordable magic of water gardening. In this article I will discuss how Pondforum fits into this emerging niche in gardening, and offer some springtime tips for new and established water gardeners.

As water gardening becomes more popular, Pondforum becomes more relevant not just because we're in the business, but because our ethic is holistic and our business model is pro-customer. An article in the Wall Street Journal last summer noted that there was a level of discontent among some water gardeners (see October 2001 column). It is true that as water gardening has spread, so has the presence of gimmicky products and fly-by-night landscapers. The mission of Pondforum has always been to offer unbiased advice rooted in experience, and to sell only those quality products that correspond to that advice. We believe this is one of the major features that distinguishes us from our competitors.

Springtime tips can be found throughout Pondforum's information sections, but for general information and links on restarting your pond, click here. One tip that I can't stress enough to water gardeners is the importance that plants play in maintaining the health of the pond. Too many people spend their money on filtration devices (or worse, chemicals) when they should be spending it on nature's equipment: plants.

Water lilies are your pond's natural filter. They absorb the nitrogen and block the sunlight that cause algae—and their beauty is the reason why many of us get into water gardening in the first place. Ponds up to 50 x 50 feet should have 50 to 70 percent of their surface covered with plants for optimum health. The reason for this is simply that such small and shallow bodies of water are unable to balance themselves in the way that larger ponds and lakes do.

Pondforum is a great place to purchase your plants. We sell 109 different varities of water lily directly from the best growers in the United States. Our plant system makes it possible to sell them to you at excellent prices. When planning your pond, remember to think of plants both as an ornament and as a vital part of the water garden's infrastructure.

Have a wonderful spring, and enjoy exploring Pondforum.

All the best,

Rob Sheldon and the Pondforum Staff