To say that plants are an important and necessary part of a balanced ecosystem is an understatement. Without plants, a water garden is bare and uninteresting, and lacks the necessary boost to it’s filtering capacity to keep water looking as clear as possible. With plants, a water garden becomes a natural work of art, blending better with your pond’s natural surroundings.  But aquatic plants serve a functional purpose as well. They absorb nutrients from the water, helping to minimize the excess algae growth. They also shelter your fish from the sun and from predators. Let’s face it. Our water gardens really wouldn’t be “gardens” if they didn’t have plants.