Cologne, Germany
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My Mum takes a certain amount of amused pride in recalling
to friends my first words, such as flowlu, fishhh, birt (I couldn't
get the "d" or "er" sound, no teeth, yet).
Little did she know then, it would become a life-long obsession!
Having been born in England, where there is a centuries long
interest in understanding and categorising the natural world,
such occupational hazards are much the rule of thumb.
Strangely enough, although I studied botany, natural sciences
and chemistry, I am an artist, working mainly in oils and ceramics!
I guess I never took seriously the idea of making a living at
something I loved so much. Now, that is changing, as I write
a great deal about plants and have just taken over the editorship
of the Hemerocallis Europa Newsletter. I seem to be returning
to the fold, although I feel I've never left it.
Water is probably the single most important element in my
life, as I have never lived far from a major body of water, be
it the Atlantic, Pacific, Tarn, Thames, Amsel or Rhein. I just
have to have its presence. I'm even born under a water sign!
That I would spend my free time with aquaria and ponds and all
that grows around is no surprise to my family and most of them
have been witness to many experiments in the 
name of
understanding the natural world. A lucky few even have gardens
graced with my idea of biological diversity, ranging from perennials,
trees and grasses to ponds, streams and waterfalls, the best
with all of these.
I currently reside in Cologne, Germany, one of the oldest
cities in northern Europe with a population of plus one million.
Built by the Romans along the Rhein, the settlement first attained
its city rights in A.D. 50 under the name Colonia Claudia Ara
Agrippinensium, which, through history has been shortened to
Colonia, then Coeln and finally Köln. The version Cologne
was French and stuck in the English language. By the way, we
are not named after the perfumed water, it is named after the
city! We enjoy a mild climate, rarely reaching -10°C in Winter
or broaching +35°C in Summer. In many ways, we resemble the
Pacific Midwest in the U.S.A. Due to the relatively crowded nature
of older European cities, large gardens are seldom found and
I am indeed lucky to have about 600 sq. meters to cultivate.
In comparison with my American gardening friends, a postage stamp!
Such restrictions force one to concentrate his efforts and make
every square centimetre count. I'm always amazed at just how
much one can cram in!
I suppose it is quite normal that a gardener chooses a few favourites to "work" with, to truly investigate and understand their requirements and complexity, for myself, Iris, orchids, Hemerocallis, roses, water lilies and lotus have been recurring themes. My main hybridising programs revolve around Hemerocallis and water Iris, with Nymphaea now becoming an attainable goal. You see, this is the first time I have actually owned a house, making all sorts of nonsense possible! I'm already eyeing the neighbours' property to annex in the name of research!
A bit about my current pond, which is not very large at 10
x 4 meters, with an attached water run of about 15 meters connecting
to the main body via a small waterfall. There is something about
the sound of running water that excites and soothes all at the
same time. I have, also, noted that a watercourse is an excellent
opportunity to create a natural filter system! Via a series of
dammed sections, the water drops its organic load as it flows
through the course, picking 
up much needed oxygen
during its cascade back into the main body. Many plants prefer
such moving waters, increasing the scope of the garden. There
are even fishes which reside in this stream! (no, not salmon!)
Generally, I favour a natural system, although I have incorporated
filters and UV systems in other projects. I find that a balanced
water system is considerably easier to maintain and I am now
convinced that my koi share this opinion. They always find something
to amuse them and still come swimming when I approach the water.