Water Gardening: Pondering becoming a ponder, 1 by boojum

boojum wrote:
Hi all!
I'm a newbie to DG and I am deciding whether to start a water garden next year. I've been an avid gardener for 20 years, but recently moved to a farm which enables me to try new things. We took down our leaning silo this summer and now I have a concrete circular foundation sitting there. Of course everyone thinks we should put in a hot tub, but not me! I like the idea of water lilies!!!! I think the foundation has cracks because I remember making a decision to use a plastic form. And I just had an outside outlet installed. I don't have easy access to water though, I'd hafta haul it or set up a looooooong hose. Do they evaporate a lot in full sun? I am growing some lilacs back there for some shade.

Also, I have a Sunset book on pond construction, but after that I know nothing. WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST FOR A BABY NEWBIE LIKE ME????? What do I do in Zone 5 for the winter? Where and what plants for a small pond? Books? I'd like to spend the winter on decision making based on research and dreams. By the way, I think fish are way in the future, if at all. We have many wild animals here. And this garden is facing the woods and streams where they live.