IT'S PONDEMONIUM ON NAT GEO WILD! NEW SERIES POND STARS GIVES MOTHER NATURE A HAND, TRANSFORMING DREARY BACKYARDS INTO TRANQUIL RETREATS

With Koi Ponds, Waterfalls and Revitalized Backyard Habitats, The Pond Stars Help People Reconnect with The Wild in Their Yards

Pond Stars Premieres Friday, September 5, at 10 PM ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD

(WASHINGTON, D.C. - AUGUST 6, 2014) In today's fast paced, electronically dependent world it's harder than ever to connect with nature on a daily basis. That's where the Pond Stars step in, redecorating yards one home at a time to create an escape from everyday life and to connect with wildlife right outside the door. The new series Pond Stars premieres Friday, September 5, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD. (For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/NGC_PR.)

Pond Stars follows Chicago-based water feature specialists at Aquascape, Inc. (www.aquascapeinc.com) as they combine technology with natural design principles to create beautiful, low maintenance water features that transform landscapes into retreats. The team tackles everything from decorative fountains to entire backyard remodels to major overhauls on ponds gone wrong.

Nat Geo WILD cameras follow every projectst a time. the dynamic trio create aquatic escapes one bacyard from the initial concept to the finished landscape. Ponds are dug, rocks are selected, wildlife is carefully chosen, and the plants and flowers are installed, all while highlighting the science of water features and how they invigorate the surrounding ecosystem. The team negotiates electrical wiring, thousand-pound boulders, and out-dated technology for a zoo habitat project. They install a 30-foot pond complete with underwater camera for a football team owner, and replicate a brown trout stream in a client's backyard. All in a day's work for the Pond Stars.

Meet The Pond Stars

Dive into a world of water features with Greg Wittstock (www.twitter.com/ThePondGuy), one of the most experienced backyard pond builders in the country. Greg owns Aquascape, Inc., the largest supplier of professional and hobbyist water feature products in the world. He is the Pond Stars boss and loves helping people reconnect with nature in their yards. Greg is joined by Ed, a scientist focused on the water environment of the project, and Brian, the foreman, who manages all of the construction. New guy Chris is along to learn the ropes. Together they build aquatic escapes one backyard at a time.

Premiere episodes include:

Pond Stars, Turtle Power Premieres Friday, September 5, at 10 p.m. ET/PT The Pond Stars come out of their shell in Atlanta tackling two wild projects in just five days. The first job is for an environmental center, creating a pond specifically for rescued turtles. The turtle pond will be used as an outdoor classroom for an upcoming kids camp, IF the team can finish in time. The second project is for the birds, literally. Greg and his guys build a 35-foot waterfall and 600-gallon, underground reservoir that will have wildlife flocking to this suburban backyard.

Pond Stars, California Streaming Premieres Friday, September 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT It's trout or bust for the Pond Stars as they take on two challenging projects in California. The team starts in the mountains where they attempt to replicate a brown trout stream in a client's backyard. But all work comes to a halt when they can't track down brown trout for the pond. As they wait for Greg to find the fish, the guys head to Los Angeles, where they are asked to create a healing garden for a cancer survivor.

Pond Stars, Welcome to The Jungle Premieres Friday, September 19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT Greg and the guys head to the sunshine state for two massive pond projects outside of Jacksonville, Florida. The first is for arena football team owner Larry Payne, building one of the most challenging designs this year, complete with a 30-foot pond, a 2,000-pound cypress tree bench and several tons of beautiful Tennessee fieldstone. For the second project, Greg and the crew to design and install a new pond, patio and pergola in less than 48 hours. The guys race against the clock, and discover snakes, battle birds of prey and face construction challenges they've never seen, all while trying to blend two unique backyards with the wetlands and coastal ecosystems surrounding them.

Pond Stars is produced by Warm Springs Productions for Nat Geo WILD. For Warm Springs Productions, executive producers are Jaymee Johnson, Marc Pierce, and Chris Richardson. For Nat Geo WILD, executive producer is Tracy Rudolph Jackson, and executive vice president and general manager is Geoff Daniels.

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About Nat Geo WILD

Experience the best, most intimate encounters with wildlife ever seen on television. Backed by its unparalleled reputation for quality and blue-chip programming, Nat Geo WILD is dedicated to providing a unique insight into the natural world, the environment and the amazing creatures that inhabit it. From the most remote environments, to the forbidding depths of our oceans, to the protected parks on our doorsteps, Nat Geo WILD will use spectacular cinematography and compelling storytelling to take viewers on unforgettable journeys into the wild world. Launched in 2006, Nat Geo WILD is part of National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) and is available in more than 90 countries and 100 million homes. Nat Geo WILD HD launched in the U.K. in March 2009, and is also available in Greece, Latin America, Poland, Spain and Russia. Further expansion is expected globally. For more information, please visit www.natgeotv.com.