Will definitely post about the pond's progress.
I read online somewhere that regular potting soil was too light & loose to use... and there's no where around here to buy the recommended water plant soil which has more clay in it. So... I just mixed some potting soil with some good "heavier" garden soil I got from a friend. Put that in a regular old pot and soaked the soil. Then potted the plants and topped off with clean gravel/rocks. Placed them in the "step 2" and gently filled with water.
The Venezuelan Poppy didn't require potting. So I just anchored it with piece of PVC pipe.
This is my first attempt at water gardening... sure hope I did it right!
That sounds like what I've heard so you're probably right on. Thanks for taking the time to respond! I so much enjoy sharing with other gardeners and learning from their experience. Good luck with your pond too!