“Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as the water from a fountain. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass the fountain.” – Lao-Tze, ancient Chinese philosopher

A PUDDLE, A POND, A POOL. Evidence of man-made garden ponds go back before the pyramids – in fact, nearly 5000 years ago. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Chinese created ways to bring water into gardens not only for the practical matter of needing a nearby water source but also as a way to soothe the soul and offer refreshment and beauty to the viewer.

Studies have shown that most people would love to have a pond or fountain in their garden – a mostly untapped market that retailers in the birding business are uniquely positioned to exploit. Everyone sells birdbaths – and that’s terrific.

You probably get plenty of add-on sales with items to keep the water moving such as misters and drippers and the “Water Wiggler.” If you’re happy with that, read no further. But let’s face it, birdbaths are man-made puddles. Indispensable, but not very exciting.

Small ponds and fountains, on the other hand, can fit any lifestyle, generate add-on sales in order to make them adaptable to any climate, give the owner the soothing sounds of a babbling brook – and have the practical benefit of re-circulating water.