This is a very good idea if you dont have money to spend and need the shade for the fish. I am with Ryan it would not be that attractive, but I dont think this is the point, however, this really just depends on the person I guess. I have seen and had the chance to work with some floating island and they are a really cool addition to a pond. You can plant many diffrent type of plant on them. I have even seen herbs grown on them (Bob Lusk has mint). The plants roots will grow out the bottom of them and add habitat that some forage fish will hang around. These floating island add great beauty to a pond and are deffinatly something to look in to getting. The ladies of the house really enjoy these. Another cool thing is it provides a place for the turtles to bask in the sun.