Bees, Aquatics and Honey?
Tricker Pond in background shown by arrow in photo.
What are those white boxes at Trickers and why are they there? If you were fortunate to visit Tricker's and drive out of our main drive, you may have noticed the white square boxed containers by one of our ponds. These are honey bee colonies. Well, in nature honey bees typically build their hives by ponds or streams and honey bees are very ecologically beneficial. Obviously the water is a main use for the honey bees, but Tricker's aquatic greenhouses provide an additional treat especially since our water lilies bloom all summer long... and ongoing pollination is necessary for some of our aquatics, Tricker's benefits and so do our customers! Order some honey today, you will be most pleased since it TASTES GREAT!
Tricker's Aquatic and Honey Bee Video - Enjoy!
Water gardens have been a great part of nature...perhaps you noticed a passing honey bee...In this video you will see some special aquatics and the honey bees collecting the pollen and nectar. Also, you will see us open one of Tricker's hives.

Historically Honey Bee culture in Ohio has been ongoing for decades dating back to the early 1800s. One of the most popular and noted books on bee culture was The ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture by A I and E R Root, The A I Root Company est 1869 was located in Medina, Ohio and was a well known manufacturer of bee hive frames. Medina, Ohio is only 25 miles from Tricker's in Independence, Ohio and, yes...even the budget of our historical nursery back in 1908 included an advertisement in Root's Beekeeping magazine, Gleanings in Bee Culture . Shown on the left s a book in Tricker's library: The ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture. Contains 1877 Preface, Copyright 1935.
Final: Tricker's advocates bee keeping and is a member of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation that strongly supports state and local communities to become involved with bee keeping. If you are unaware of CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) that effects the honey bees please take the time to learn. Tricker's thanks you and so do the bees!
America's Oldest Water Garden Specialist established in 1892
In the later 1920s and 1930s Tricker delivered aquatics locally via trucks to customers. This practice is still done today in newer vehicles.
William Tricker, Inc.® is a leading grower of aquatic plants and supplier of water garden products and aquarium supplies. Our aquatic greenhouses have produced superior plants for over a century. Customers have been receiving quality water plants and animals, some free, that make water gardening easy and fun to do. Purchase with confidence at Tricker's.
William Tricker (born 1853) started his commercial water lily culture in the United States in the late 1800's. He began experimenting with hybridizing water lilies and studied what helps their growth. The shape, colors and hardiness of his beautiful aquatic plants have withstood the test of time.
In the early 1890's, He earned a reputation as a leader in aquatice from hybridiing water lilies. His water lily nursery and company was formed in both Ohio and Pennsylvania and each were passed down to his family until the 1980's when Richard Lee purchased the Ohio company. In 1892, the first William Tricker mail-order catalog was mailed to customers across the nation.
Read more about William Tricker and the historic water lily nursery here.
A Message to Our Customers
Like other stores, the Covid Pandemic has affected Tricker's in many ways including supply lines and employment. Our Team Members have been working as quickly as possible to handle your order. Being short-handed, the propagation of plants and animals has been affected. Tricker's has an energetic crew with new members who are learning all aspects of the company from how to grow the aquatic plants to packaging and shipping to you.
The store in Independence is closed to walk-in traffic because Tricker's brick-n-water store has very limited space to accomodate people and renovations of the historic site have further limited the space.
- You may place your order at this website to either ship to you or you can pick up your order in Independence, OH. Pick-up instructions will be given at checkout.
- Phone orders are also welcome.
- Online order shipping rates now match the print catalog.
- If you have a store credit or gift certificate with no code for an online purchase, please Email us or phone us at 1-800-524-3492 to convert it for an online purchase.
Everyone here at Tricker's Water Gardens appreciate your patience during these trying times in our history. We have, and still are, adjusting to accommodate customers. Thank you for understanding and have a very safe and exciting year.