In addition to growing beautiful plants and soothing fish, a water garden can help the neighborhood birds. It provides a place to bathe. In the heat, they can get a drink. Be sure to use only natural products in your pond that don't harm animals.

Now is the time to start thinking about getting your pond ready for winter. Don't wait until November to clear out unwanted plants. BRRR! That water is cold in November!

How do you keep down mosquitoes and biting gnats when you have a water garden or feature?

There isn't a problem with it, since the water is not stagnant. We have a pump that pushes water up a little slope, then it runs down a small stream. The water is constantly circulating. Also, we have fish, and maybe they use the larvae for food. Although, I really have never seen larvae in the pond.