By Patricia Knight
Welcome to the 2012 issue of Ponds USA! For our 15th anniversay issue, we have touched on some enjoyable topics that focus on the merging of beauty and nature, which are both inherent when it comes to water gardens. Plants, animals and creating your special backyard paradise are all covered here this year. Take, for example, Carl Brady’s “Your Backyard Sanctuary” (page 26), which is all about creating the perfect ambiance for your water garden with all the right elements.
And if plants are your passion, we’ve got plenty for you this year! Read about lilies and irises, plants that produce beautiful spring flowers and winter berries, and shade plants — and that’s just getting started. Then of course, there are the pond fish. Don’t forget to take a look at James Careless’ “Koi Myths and Truths” (page 16) to learn some vital information about these beloved fish.
Of course, pondkeepers try to be practical and eco-friendly, too. Perhaps the ultimate way that pondowners can be practical is to harvest rainwater for use in ponds. Though this is not something that everyone may be able to take on, it’s worth reading about — and if you can harvest rainwater, why not get started now? Check out Mike Garcia’s article on page 92 to get an idea of how one rainwater harvesting project turned out.
In addition, this issue is debuting the revamped versions of some of your favorite sections of the magazine. We hope you will be pleased to find our revised “Koi Varieties” piece (page 110), which now features photographs to help you identify some common koi types (in the past, this was an illustrated guide). And the glossaries are now more comprehensive than ever — some new words have been added, so even if you’ve glanced at them in the past, you may want to revisit them again this year.
Those who have ponds and water gardens have a lot to enjoy when it comes to their backyard endeavors. We hope this year’s issue of Ponds USA brings you closer to your water-gardening goals.