Welcome to Pondforum. It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you the updated-for-2002 version of our website. You will find it easier to use and more full of high-caliber products and information—not to mention lower prices—than in the past. Before I highlight some of those products, let me restate for the new year Pondforum's mission.

Our goal is to deliver unbiased products and information to you in accordance with our unique philosophy of water gardening. Our products are unbiased because we won't sell items that we think are designed to help our bottom line more than your pond. Our information is unbiased because we tell you what we really think, not what we think will make you buy our products. Pondforum sells everything necessary to build and maintain a healthy pond—if you can't find it on our website, chances are you don't need it.

Our philospohy is simple: when possible, build a balanced pond in the image of nature; if not possible, use techniques and products that are least harmful to the nature of your pond. We have built and maintained many lily ponds, and it is from this experience that we draw our conviction in this philosophy. We invite you to read about it in detail in our how-to and information sections.

I would also like to mention our water lily section, a major aspect of Pondforum that sets us apart from our colleagues in water gardening retail. First, we offer tremendous variety: over 100 different types of water lily, more than anyone else. This makes Pondforum a one-stop shop for water lilies. But best of all, if you purchase three or more of one type of water lily, the price drops by as much as 50% per lily. Add to that our flat UPS 2nd Day Air plant shipping fee of $9.50, and our bargain basement marginal plant and fertilizer tab add-ons, and you're saving a lot of money. So please check out our plant sections and read about our plant system.

Buying 3 water lilies may seem like a lot—they're expensive, so most people tend to buy one of this or one of that variety. But at the same time, the most common problems that water gardeners face are algae-related. Many people are surprised to hear that 50 to 70% of their pond's surface area should be covered by floating plants. If it isn't, you've got a recipe for algae. Read more about this in our Ecology information section.

Additions to this year's product line-up include the first submersible line of UV clarifiers, two durable and inexpensive lines of aquatic pumps, and a high-quality and convenient Ground Fault Interruptor extension cord. By March we will have available for downloading our first e-book, titled "The Life of Your Lily Pond." This high-quality book will build upon all of the information currently in our information sections, and will feature many extra tips, words of wisdom and photographs.

We wish you all the best in the new year, and look forward, as you do, to spring and to the next water gardening season!

Yours,

Rob Sheldon and the Pondforum Staff