This is a very good book on water gardening and does have some nice pictures. I must disagree with another reviewer; this is NOT the only book you'll ever need on the subject. It is very good and a valuable recourse, but has left me with many questions still unanswered.
My husband and I found this book helpful as a general reference for building our pond. We were disappointed that there wasn't more detail in certain key areas. For example, when you look up pH in the index and turn to the selected page, they just show you a picture of a pH test kit. It would be nice to know why we need one!
The equipment section would have been enhanced with a greater variety of filtration/pump set-ups and the pros/cons of each configuration.
The section about plants is excellent; it is extensive, with detailed thumbnail descriptions, and helpfully separated into groups.
I would recommend this book, but not as a complete source of water garden info.
Got to buy this book
We have a giant hole in our backyard and it is a tribute to this excellent book. It describes the process of creating a water feature as well as or better than any other publication on the market. We will have a wildlife and bird resource thanks to the quality of this publication. My sincere thanks to the author/editor/writer.
THE Book on Water Garden Construction and Maintenance
If you want to build a pond/stream/waterfall, and you want the pleasure of doing it yourself, this is THE book to buy. There are several good ones available, and you should consider some of them to help yourself gain valuable knowledge about the subject.
However, of all the books in this field, this is the most comprehensive, best illistrated, and the most diverse guide of its kind.
The Hard cover edition (if available) will be a book you'll want to keep with your other favorites.
