This page is dedicated to my special friend, Ruth Ann Tiedjens, whom I met online. Ruth Ann lives in Canada. We have only communicated by e-mail and instant messages and have never met.

While vacationing in Quebec City, Canada several years ago, I noticed some planting bags hanging on the outside of many of the buildings. Each bag had numerous colorful flowers growing from them. I had never seen so many beautiful flowers hanging from buildings. Nor had I ever encounted the planting bags in the United States.

After arriving home, I posted a question on the Internet to see if someone could tell me where I could buy them. Ruth Ann was the only one who answered.

She told me how much they were and that she would be happy to send me a few. They thrived for a short time until the hot Arizona sun finished them off. Yuck!

In our Internet chats she mentioned that she had a water garden. The idea of having my own water garden intrigued me. The thought wouldn't go away. If it had not been for Ruth Ann I may never have had a water garden. Sitting beside my water garden and watching and feeding the fish have brought me countless hours of pleasure. Thanks, Ruth Ann, for your inspiration.

Ruth Ann's encouragement and excellent advice has contributed greatly to the success of our water garden and my experience with gardening. Whenever I have had questions she has been there for me. What a friend! She's a great water garden mentor. I've nick named her "Master." She calls me "Grasshopper."

Here are a few pictures of her water garden taken in her back yard.

One of Ruth Ann's ponds

Flowers, flowers, everywhere!

A beautiful Lotus

Another of Ruth Ann's ponds

There are more pictures. Click on "Part 2."

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Part 2