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By now your feet should have recuperated from the Trade Show (as well as your pocket book) and you're ready for additional stomping around in your backyard! We have the Pond Tour on the horizon and you may be thinking about taking out that green thumb of yours and making some additions to the landscape around the pond and beyond. If you don't have a green thumb then you are in the right hobby my friend! Aquatic plants are the easiest to grow and what better plant then one that is self watering. The book, "The Water Garden" does offer step by step instructions on creating water features. There are installation instructions on creating ponds and filters. What had my interest was the great attention to the water garden plants. Let's face it, when you talk about ponds most people will think "water lilies" and "water hyacinth." This book allows us to break free of the typical thoughts surrounding water plants and planting. This book is simple to read and has many fine photographs as well as step by step photographs. How many times have you gone to a nursery and saw an aquatic plant, read it's specs and still wasn't sure if this was the plant for your pond? This book will certainly help you. I was especially impressed with the pages of marginal plants. These are wonderful plants for the banks of your ponds and in the shallows of your bog areas. Rees and Sutherland have rounded out the plant information with those that are moisture loving (for your ponds edge) and the ever popular water lilies. We should have more oxygenating plants in our water features, especially if you are stocked with koi and goldfish. Because of this book I have become a fan of the Hottonia Palustris (water violet) which I hope to add to our pond this year. This plant will not only produce flowers it is also a wonderful plant in which babies can hide from predators. Oxygenating plants are also useful, as the floaters like hyacinth, for water clarity. Definitely think about adding oxygenating plants this year. There are step by step instructions for planting the marginals as well as the other plants to your pond. You will also find helpful hints on root division and cuttings. I would recommend this book if you are thinking of adding flowers, or greenery, to your retreat. Whether your pond is on the tour, or not, you will find this helpful in making decisions about what plants you may be interested. It may even give you additional creative ideas for adding small water features as well. Please email me if you would like me to
bring this book to the June meeting. I give this book 3.5 fish!!
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