About this item
Build a natural pond for wildlife, beauty, and quiet contemplationTypical backyard ponds are a complicated mess of pipes, pumps, filters, and nasty chemicals designed to adjust pH and keep algae at bay. Hardly the bucolic, natural ecosystem beloved by dragonflies, frogs, and songbirds.The antidote is a natural pond, free of hassle, cost, and complexity and designed as a fully functional ecosystem, ideal for biodiversity, swimming, irrigation, and quiet contemplation.Building Natural Ponds is the first step-by-step guide to designing and building natural ponds that use no pumps, filters, chemicals, or electricity and mimic native ponds in both aesthetics and functionality. Highly illustrated with how-to drawings and photographs, coverage includes:* Understanding pond ecosystems and natural algae control* Planning, design, siting, and pond aesthetics * Step-by-step guidance for construction, plants and fish, and maintenance and trouble shooting* Scaling up to large ponds, pools, bogs, and rain gardens.
About the Author
Robert Pavlis is a well-known speaker, and educator with over 40 years of gardening experience. He is the author of two books, Building Natural Ponds, and Garden Myths and publishes the popular gardening blogs; GardenMyths.com and GardenFundamentals.com. As the owner and head gardener of Aspen Grove Gardens, a six-acre botanical garden, he grows 3,000 varieties of plants.Who Am I? I live in Southern Ontario, Canada, which has a US zone 5 climate and have been gardening for more than 30 years - I stopped counting at 30! I am a Master Gardener and speak about gardening at many local gardening events and horticulture meetings. I contribute the 'Plant of the Month' articles for the Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society, write articles for some local newspapers and teach several courses including a 20 hr Gardening Fundamentals course at the local university and a garden design course through the city.I am a plantaholic!I have a background in chemistry and biochemistry which allows me to research topics and understand the underlying science behind things. Once I understand the topic it is then my task to present the information in an easy to understand style that is both informative and fun to read.My gardening philosophy:- Understand the 'why' in everything you do.- Look to nature for answers - mother nature already knows how to garden.- KISS in the garden; KISS = keep it simple stupid.- Bugs and diseases are part of life - learn to live with it.- Organic gardening works - too bad 'organic fanatics' mislead the public.- Have fun - or stop doing it.
