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Bog Bean - Menyanthes trifoliata
Also called, Buck Bean, Marsh Clover, and Water Shamrock. Hardy to zone 2, it is slow to settle in, but once it does, it grows well for many years. Plants grow best in part shade. The plants white flowers begin as pink buds and open fringed, star-shaped white blooms that are highly fragrant with the scent of vanilla. Height = 6-12 and has a creeping spread that makes it great for softening streams and waterfalls. Propagate Bog Bean by dividing its rootstock. Likes moist to 3 of water, rootstock will float on water surface.
Shubunkin - goldfish
Shubunkin is Japanese meaning "bright red marked with different shades of colors." The color patterns of shubunkin varies so much that no two fish will have the same appearance. In choosing a specimen, look for a fish with solid black dots and stripes that occur on the body as well as on the fins. Small black sesame-seed-sized dots and narrow stripes are generally preferred over large patches. Otherwise, desirable color combinations are a matter of personal taste. Asians have a passion for more red, especially on top of the head, while Westerners favor more blue. Whichever is your preference, both colors should occur in large, bright, and intense patches on both sides of the body.
Water Parsley - Oenanthe javanica 'Flamingo'
A native of SE Asia, this lovely plant has pink, white, and green frilly foliage that resembles and smells like carrot tops. It grows well along the edge of the pond, stream, or waterfall and is equally suitable for large container water gardens. The foliage grows from running stems that root quickly at the leaf nodes, so this makes it easy to grow from stem cuttings. Water Parsley is rated zone 5, but I've had it come back at my stream edge for years now, with no special care. Will tolerate some shade.
Fiber Optic Lighting for Ponds and Waterfalls.
Unitrac Lighting Co. has introduced AqualLite, the first fiber optic lighting kit designed specifically for ponds and water features. A light source located in an enclosure outside the pond shines light into one end of a bundle of fiber optic cables. Light travels through the cables and out the other end to illuminate waterfalls, underwater plants, fish, etc. No electricity enters the pond, the fixtures are very small and easy to hide, and the lights change colors continuously. The easy to install and maintain kits are suitable for medium to large ponds and come in standard 8-12, and 16 light configurations. 585-594-1200 or AJHerzke@aol.com