Gardening With Water

Fall Open House

2009-09-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

Fall Open House
Date: September 12, 2009
Time: 10:00– 2:00
Neptune’s Water Gardens
11514 S 168th St
Gretna, NE 68028
1/2 mile south of 168th and Hwy 370
Imagine how a new water feature can accent your landscape! Stop by Neptune’s Water Gardens to see our new pondless waterfall display, as well as our spitters and bubbling features. If you already have a fountain, pond, or waterfall, pick up the water treatments , pond heaters, aerators, and netting to prepare your water feature for the fall and winter. Add lights to your fountain to enjoy in the early fall evenings. Savings throughout the store, including sales on this season’s many varieties of koi and fall closeouts on all aquatic plants. Stop by the Garden Gallery and pick up fall flowers for your containers and landscape. Stop by our website at www.neptuneswatergardens.com for more information and to shop online. Sign up for our online newsletter to keep up to date on fall maintenance and in store specials. Fall maintenance services available. See you at the garden and Happy Pondering! Jason Heller

Koi Krazy!

2009-05-01T19:16:00.000-07:00

Our first batches of koi are in and available for sale at Neptune's Water Gardens. The picture is of beautiful 6-8 inch choice grade koi. We also have nice 8-10 inch yellow ogons, and other odds and ends we have raised from last year. It will be an exciting weekend at the Garden Gallery with the Burke Art show on Saturday, and Brats, Beer, and Begonias on Sunday. I have been busy getting all of our aquatic plants ready for the season. Come visit us this weekend to see whats growing, and support our local artists. Neptune's Water Gardens is located at 11514 s 168th St Gretna NE, 68028. We will be open from 10:00 until 3:00 on Saturday, and 12:00 until 4:00 on Sunday. You can always visit us online at http://www.neptuneswatergardens.com.
Happy Pondering

Neptune's Water Gardens Fall Harvest Sale

2008-09-20T05:52:00.000-07:00

Fall Harvest Sale
Saturday September 27th 10:00 until 3:00 and Sunday 11:00 until 2:00
End of the year pricing on aquatic plants, Koi and seasonal items.
Stop by the Garden Gallery to pick up your fall plantings.
Also special sales on trees at the Tatanka Tree Farm.
Neptune’s Water Gardens is located at the Tatanka Tree Farm
11514 S. 168th st Gretna Ne, 68028
402-699-0384

Return to the Blogosphere

2007-01-20T06:11:00.000-08:00

After a busy fall I am organizing myself to catch up my posts and share the projects and ideas that I have floating around. I am starting with the cranes in honor of Rick Anderson. Rick is a mentor of mine and is speaking at this years ANLA Managment Clinic. This event is a total blast and if you are in the landscape industry, it is your best chance to meet and share ideas with people from across the country. I will not be attending this year unfortunately, if I do not finish the renovations to our house by spring, my wife is going to throw me out. You can learn more about Rick and the Management Clinic here.

Omaha Zoo Build 2006

2006-08-12T14:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of the completed build a day after we completed it. I went to take pictures the other day but it was too sunny and crawling with people. Can you believe that people are attracted by water? Maybe I'll go tomorrow morning, if I am not digging my own pond. Go to My Portfolio Hosted by Fotki or here for pictures. I did have to visit this feature the other day before I did all of the finish work on the current large scale feature we are working on, I am lucky to have this resource available.

This was built by professionals?

2006-08-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

This picture speaks for itself. Believe it or not, the home owner is not happy, and the contrctor will not return. Unfortunately this is the misinformation and installation we face in the industry. We have already rebuilt this pond. unfortunately it will not be the last disaster we come across. Just remember, just because you are paid for a job, it does not make you a professional. Personal note: Flagstone is for patios, and in rare cases, the negative edge. We threw it all away.

Koi

2006-08-11T19:19:00.000-07:00

Who wouln't want this in there back yard? I ordered filters for my camera today. This picture is good but it could always be better.

Serious Pumps

2006-08-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

It is time to drop the pumps, Just a taste of whats to come. Call your friends, they will want to see this when it is done. 150 tons of stone, 40 tons of gravel, 1 week till go time.

Hello Matrix

2006-08-11T19:12:00.000-07:00

Here is the next generation of wetland and pondless design, the Aquascapes Designs matrix system. The matrix will enable us to pull off this negative edge with enough water to fill the upper pond and waterfall. The electrician promised me power by the end of next week.

Serious Equipment

2006-07-24T18:32:00.000-07:00

The superintendant of th job could not figure out why I did not want his grader to dig the pond. Little did he know we were going to build an eight foot mountain to work off of where the pond is supposed to be. I tried to get our mini excavator out here for this, not to use it, just for the picture. This job would not progress without big equipment, we are fortunate to have it at our disposal..The question was posed to me today, " So we do one and I suppose we will have to do more big ones like this?" I hope so.

Take Two

2006-07-19T18:23:00.000-07:00

After finding a hole in the liner that required the entire waterfeature to be taken apart and rebuilt, this is our final result. We changed the fall stone and arrangement of some of the stones. I am much happier with this project now, especially since it is not leaking any more.

Pondless Contest

2006-07-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

Here is our entry with running water. I would have preferred to use moss rock for the falls if it was available.

Pondemonium 2006

2006-07-19T18:01:00.000-07:00

Here is our team for the waterfall building contest. We did not win, but I think ours looked the best, and the most natural in my mind. In this picture the water had yet to be turned on. Our team worked well together without too much conflict, but it is hard to not step on eachothers toes. Lots of good ideas.

Maple Ridge Waterfeature

2006-07-19T17:57:00.000-07:00

Tuesday we set the first of the 60+ tons of large stones for this waterfeature. This is the view that will be seen as cars come down the hill towards the building. We set these initial stones with a payloder, and will bring in an excavator tomorrow to set the stones further in, and then tie the falls back into the wall.

Chien Avec Mare

2006-05-27T21:02:00.000-07:00

I hate French, But It was the language I chose to learn. I have nothing more to say than I like this picture. Back to the Sobe.

Ask and They Shall Recieve

2006-05-27T20:46:00.000-07:00

Here is the water feature that the homeowner requested. I hesitated initially to do this project due to the logistics, all of the stone had to come over 12' of wall and fence, and had to be built over an 8 foot retaining wall. Also I was not sure that I would be happy with the final result. Now seeing it, I am satisfied. I still wish that there was more room so that we could plant the top and sides. I have not heard from the home owner yet, I hope she approves.

Setting the Last Stone

2006-05-27T20:43:00.000-07:00

The loader will be picked up after the weekend, this is the last stone to make it onto the patio.

Little Time to Write, Stuck Under the Stone

2006-05-27T20:35:00.000-07:00

I hate spring!!!! Everything needs to happen now, and no one has patience or forthought. Unfortunately I have been busy and have not found the time to write. I need to change. I feel that if I write more I will feel more comfortable doing it. I was very happy with my speaking engagment on thursday. Thank you to all of you who came out, if you make it here. It still amazes me that there is so much misinformation out there on water gardening. I have to get back to setting stone now, it is as ridiculous as it looks.

Return To The Blog

2006-05-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

Here you go Dan. I was importing stuff on my new computer and I found this picture I took for the 2004 ANLA Management Clinic. I told you I would add you to the blog. After a long absence, you are the first post.

My day with The Pond Guy

2006-03-16T15:04:00.000-08:00

Here is yours truly with The Pond Guy. I spent yeaterday afternoon listening to him talk about how to improve the way I do business. He took a minute to look over my portfolio at lunch, and gave me plenty of hell about how I wasn't taking advantage of all of the support Aquascapes provides. He was absolutely correct. I could not help but laugh as he spoke because he was telling me everything I already knew. By the way, Rick if you are out there Greg expects you to be at Pond College this year in July. He had nothing but great things to say about you. I am really jazzed now about this year.

Disaster!

2006-02-20T18:17:00.000-08:00

This is an absolute disaster. This was a difficult project to assess from many perspectives. From the design side, this water feature was placed in a very unenjoyable spot. the wall on the left side of the picture blocks it from the deck and the patio. How can you hear the water falling over the sound of two AC units? The client's daughter had her senior pictures taken in front of this 5 minutes after this picture was taken. It is my hope with sites such as this and of others that this will not be allowed to happen again.

The Rambo Pond and Streams

2006-02-16T18:14:00.000-08:00

This pond was designed by the master, Rick Anderson, in 2000. It was installed with the help of yours truly and "The Chief" and his crew. This project was challenging during and after construction, but has grown in nicely over time. Too many of the pictures that I have show projects immediately after construction. It is nice to be able to go back to a project and see established. Every time I go back to this site I notice something different. From this angle I can appreciate the light filtering through the trees and the way the stone reflects off the water. The Pachysandra weeps over the edge and kisses the water. The lighter color and softer texture of the Acorus breaks up the sea of green. There are a lot of elements in action in this design, and I may revisit this one from other angles in the future.

ALCA November 2005

2006-02-14T19:24:00.000-08:00

Here I am trying to teach the mushy minds off tomorrow. I was asked by the UNL ALCA group to speak about water feature design. I spoke for an hour and answered questions for some time. This picture is of me answering questions. I am flattered that I have had the opportunity to teach these whippersnappers, funny just for me, about water garden design. I look forward to speaking to this group again.

Whispering Crane Institute: Water gardening "shootout" is OVER!

2006-02-14T17:58:00.000-08:00

Whispering Crane Institute: Water gardening "shootout" is OVER!

My Fountain

2006-02-09T08:02:00.000-08:00

Here is my waterfeature. Everyone assumes that because I build water features that I must have a grand one. Simplicity and function are most important. I have a postage stamp yard and a large dog. I get the sound and look of the water with this stone fountain, and with some cleverly placed lighting, it is reflected on the wall of my garage at night. It is the perfect water feature for my situation.

ANLA 2006

2006-02-02T21:13:00.000-08:00

I am posting after Muggets. The first day of speakers has been as expected. I have been urged by my friends to become an influencial force in NNLA. I have been talking about it for 2 years. It is time to get off the pot. To all of my new friends that I am meeting at the conference, thank you for coming here. Please go to my portfolio and give me as much feedback as possible. I wish I had taken some pictures of all of this, maybe tomorrow. I have to come up with a plant for tomorrow, good luck. Cheers!!

Water and Ice

2006-01-31T16:58:00.000-08:00

Why more people do not enjoy thier water gardens year round is beyond me. Look how nice this stream looks last December in the snow. The way the snow rests on the stone. The white cap on the log bridge. THe plantings are not yet established around this feature. When the plantings fill in, another dimension will be created to hold the snow. At night, the light glistens off of the ice creating a haunting glow.

Have A Seat Mr. Toad.

2006-01-30T18:41:00.000-08:00

This is my mad army. These are eroded toadstools at Toadstool Park in western Nebraska. The toadstools are formed by the action or wind an rain over the years. The area is rich with fossils and other evidence of ancient inhabitants. This is my favorite place on Earth. There is so much to see and appreciate in a small space. It is a mysterious and spiritual kind of place. There is camping, but not many camp there. It is a place to escape reality. In my time I have visited many places to observe water in constant action. I have learned more by watching how the lack of, or infrequent water acts. It is a treat when you can walk through after a rain and see the way the water cuts channels and forms the land. This will not be the last post of this site, so stay tuned.

Gummy

2006-01-27T19:24:00.000-08:00

I have decided to make friday into a special day. Friday is now Plant Friday. I will post my plant of choice, hopefully 52 different ones, and will take requests if anyone is looking. The plant of the week is Sweet Gum. I planted this tree two years ago. It has the most spectacular fall color, and I hope its performance improves over the years. This tree is good for a space where a more upright shade tree is required. It longs for Kentucky, but it is doing well in Nebraska. Cheers.

Maine Millstone

2006-01-26T18:01:00.000-08:00

As I plan for the upcoming year I have been thinking of new and different fountain ideas. This hand carved millstone is from Maine Millstones. The black rock is imported from China. The water flows nicely out of the grooves which are carved into the stone. I have been working with drilled stones and other types of bubbling features. This will look twice as nice next year as the planting matures.

Peace Frog

2006-01-26T16:31:00.000-08:00

This frog nestled in the variegated water celery is one of many that have made it to the Dwyer pond. This is the first year out of five that there has been frogs, and their size and numbers are huge. We have always had a problem with the overpopulation of goldfish, donating hundreds to a fish shop every spring. I guess this water garden is fertile. Thank you to Cody Osbourne from Aquascape Designs for taking the photo.

The Greatest Compliment

2006-01-25T18:44:00.000-08:00

I have decided to revisit this blooging thing. I am preparing to write a couple of articles that I was asked to write. I have decided to use this blog as an area to post my ideas and help me organize my thoughts. The photo is of a couple of ducks that decided to stop in a waterfeature I created in 2004. It is the biggest compliment to have these ducks appreciating my creation.