I'm not sure how to follow up. Here is an example of my 'bad' plant design. I found a very nice geranium in the middle of a bed surrounded by taller plants. From spring to fall, you can't see it, unless you are weeding behind plants. Clearly this is poor planning, and bad design. It did not prevent anyone from enjoying the rest of the garden. When I watch people go through a garden, almost all, glide through it - not really seeing individual plants. In fact most go so fast they could not possible appreciate the many problems that exist. Here is another example. Based on my reading, Claude Monet's garden at Giverny would be considered good plant design. I have seen many pictures of the garden - even TV shows, but I think it is a poor example of a garden. I understand the goal was to create a very natural garden and he succeeded very well. But to be honest - the general public would not be impressed with this garden, if they did not know it was famous. A very important part of my original message was "the general public". I am not talking about experienced gardeners, or designers, or students of design. I am talking about Joe public. For the same reason I don't need an expensive wine to enjoy it. I don't need a great symphony to enjoy it. In these areas, I am Joe public. I can enjoy a lower quality of product, because I really do not know the difference. I used to grow Orchids. At our shows, it was interesting to see which Orchids impressed joe public. They knew nothing about real quality in Orchids. Big and colorful wins every time. The Orchidophiles knew better - but only because they have studied the subject and refined their taste. The general public enjoyed the good ones as well as the bad ones. In order to discuss this topic I think it is important to separate one self from your own experiences - difficult to do. Ink you had said " In spite of that do you think you are missing something? Who do you want to impress "the average person" yourself or some other mysterious criterion? ". That is not my point. I see great value in striving for great design, both from a personal level and to impress others. My original point had nothing to do with my feeling, or my ability to see good design, or the ability of people on this forum to do the same. I was talking about the people who don't visit gardening forums.

In my estimation, Jefe's post (a couple or so upthread) is right on target & worth reading a second time. Poor soils that remain saturated for extended periods cause a cyclic death and regeneration of roots that start with the finest roots first. The longer the cultural conditions remain unfavorable, the larger (incrementally) the roots are that succumb to saturated, anaerobic conditions. Often, so many roots die that the plant is virtually a large cutting. The lack of roots and compromised root function/metabolism makes it impossible for the plant to absorb enough water to replace transpirational loss, and leaf margin/leaf tip necrosis is often a primary symptom with low humidity contributing to symptoms as a secondary cause. In the case where high levels of salt in the soil are causal, the salt makes it difficult for the plant to absorb water. There MUST be a higher concentration of solutes in the water inside of cells than there is in the soil solution or water will not pass through cell walls (osmosis) into cells; and, again the plant would be unable to move water sufficient to replace transpirational losses. Leaf margin and tip necrosis would again be one of the primary symptoms. Prevent the saturated soil AND salt build-up by using a structurally durable and well-aerated soil that allows you to water often and profusely. Al

Yes, roots need air (oxygen). Water uptake, and therefore nutrient uptake, are energy driven. In order for the process to occur, plants need to torn the food they make into energy, and that requires oxygen, just as your own body requires oxygen to keep your cells fueled. The reason many terrestrial plants can be grown in water is by virtue of the fact they can change root structure. The roots produced in water are quite different from those produced in a soil-like or highly aerated medium (perlite - screened Turface - calcined DE - seed starting mix, e.g.). Physiologically, you will find these (water) roots to be much more brittle than normal roots due to a much higher percentage of aerenchyma (a tissue with a greater percentage of intercellular air spaces than normal parenchyma - as in terrestrial plants). Aerenchyma tissue is filled with airy compartments. It usually forms in already rooted plants as a result of highly selective cell death and dissolution in the root cortex in response to hypoxic conditions in the rhizosphere (root zone). There are 2 types of aerenchymous tissue. One type is formed by cell differentiation and subsequent collapse, and the other type is formed by cell separation without collapse ( as in water-rooted plants). In both cases, the long continuous air spaces allow diffusion of oxygen (and probably ethylene) from the upper part of the plant to roots that would normally be unavailable to plants with roots growing in hypoxic media. In fresh cuttings placed in water, aerenchymous tissue forms due to the same hypoxic conditions w/o cell death & dissolution. Note too, that under hypoxic (airless - low O2 levels) conditions, ethylene is necessary for aerenchyma to form. This parallels the fact that low oxygen concentrations, as found in water rooting, generally stimulate plants to produce ethylene. For a long while it was believed that high levels of ethylene stimulate adventitious root formation, but lots of recent research proves the reverse to be true. Under hypoxic conditions, like submergence in water, ethylene actually slows down adventitious root formation and elongation. Soggy soils are hard on plants for a couple of reasons. A) Roots can't quickly make back and forth transitions from well-aerated to hypoxic. B) Soggy soils don't allow the roots enough O2 to work efficiently, so root function is impaired or roots die from a lack of O2. C) Gas exchange in soggy soils is poor. O2 diffuses in air about 10,000 times faster than in water, so in transitional situations (aerated to hypoxic) the plant can't get O2 from the soil OR the upper plant organs. Also, since CO2 is heavier than air, soils with poor gas exchange tend to fill with CO2, and hold onto gas byproducts of decomposition - like the CO2 already mentioned, sulfurous gasses, methane ... which is an obvious problem. Al

I have a new pond and would really appreciate any plants that you may have extra of for postage if possible, as I dont have anything to trade. If you have any extra plants please let me know. Thanks