Over the last 3 years there has been a phenomenal growth in the water garden business. There is more demand for ponds, ponds with waterfalls, koi ponds -- you name it -- every year.

Ponds, particularly those with fish, have had a reputation for being hard to maintain, and in the past it was true. They tended to be expensive, labor-intensive, and the plants and fish had a fairly poor life expectancy. People were rightly cautious about getting into something that might well prove to be an expensive boondoggle that would end up adding nothing to the value of their home. So what's changed?

As with many so many other things, new technology has quietly revolutionized the way ponds are designed, installed and maintained, with the result that they are no longer a worry or a risky investment for the homeowner.

• They are easier, faster and far less expensive to build than in the past.

• They are completely natural looking. No more molded concrete that looks like, well, molded concrete.

• They require very little maintenance (about fifteen to twenty minutes on a weekend), with a few periodic applications of inexpensive materials to keep them in crystal clear, beautiful shape.

• For less than $1,000, the do-it-yourselfer who only needs a small water feature can buy a complete pond kit.

But there's more to it than just technology. The pace of modern life (and, perhaps, the deteriorating quality of mass media entertainment) creates a need for somewhere to relax, a place to de-stress at the end of a hard day's commute. A well-designed pond brings a piece of nature into even the most urbanized back yard, transforming it into a personal oasis for the family.

One of the common unlooked-for benefits of a water feature is that it quietly but emphatically changes the family lifestyle. It entices couples away from the television long enough to discover that they not only CAN still communicate, but that they actually have a lot to talk about and enjoy in each other's company. A pond, particularly if it includes fish, quickly becomes a favorite hobby for everyone in the family. With a waterfall, it masks nearby freeway or street noise, and replaces it with one of nature's most soothing sounds: running water. And, of course, it brings a whole new dimension to entertaining friends.

At Pacific Outdoor Living, we often have customers who were skeptical about the stories of more spouse communication or not watching TV as much, but who come back after they have had their new pond for a few weeks and tell us: "It's true!"

In the next few articles, I'll go into more detail about how pond technology has improved, and why it is now one of the most desirable home improvements you can make.

Until next time!

Terry Morrill
Founder
Pacific Outdoor Living