Question
My gardener has cleaned out totally (apart from water lilies!) my small pond. How do I restock it - with plants and snails (no fish - too many cats!). Have no idea where to start but it looks dreadfully clean and bare.

Answer
Hi Sheila,
Thanx for your question.  Before I first got started, I just went to places that sold aquatic plants and looked at what they had and then I went home and studied them on the Internet.  I check out other peoples'ponds too for ideas.  I have been to several Watergarden Shows in my area for ideas.  Use feeder goldfish (they're cheap only like $1.50 a dozen) and don't feed them then the cats aren't as likely to get them.  The feeder goldfish survive nicely just on local bugs.  

Here is a wonderful resource I think you will find useful.
http://americanwatergardener.com/content.asp?Category=290#
I hope this helps.
Tom