The People’s Choice

WARWICK — Warwick’s Garden State Koi and Aquatic Center, located at 657 Route 94 North, recently took first place in the People’s Choice Award at the 2013 annual Springfest Flower and Garden Show.

The event, which was held at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, N.J., from March 14-17, is one of the most important shows related to the flower and plant sector in United States.

Garden State Koi landscape designer Tim Dille typically creates and installs full-size ponds, streams and waterfalls in customers’ backyards.

‘Something whimsical’
His design of “Toad Ville” at the flower and garden show this year focused on a smaller-scaled garden complete with an operating waterwheel gristmill, small flowers, a scaled-down waterfall and miniature paths for the two dozen toads sprinkled around the garden.

“We wanted to try something a little different. Something whimsical,” Dille said. “We normally build a backyard water feature to give people attending Springfest an idea of what we can do in their yard. This year we thought outside the box and wanted to create a garden that would appeal to all ages and I think we accomplished that.”

The award-winning design was built around a 1/8th-scale gristmill with a functioning waterwheel. An 11-foot by 16-foot pond with koi, waves of yellow crocuses, green moss, grass and croaking toads all made Garden State Koi a popular stop during the garden show.

“The kids loved the toad on the raft and the parents were trying to find all of the toads in our garden,” said Dille. “We received so many compliments. We’re already working on next year’s garden. This one will be tough to beat.”

Essential information
• Garden State Koi & Aquatic Center is a full-service water garden store providing design, installation and maintenance services. The store, which features on site displays of koi ponds, streams, waterfalls and fountains, is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• For additional information call 651-4100 or visit www.gardenstatekoi.com.