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Water Features
by Toni Salter [www.theveggielady.com]
Water has always been a classic feature in garden design. The sound of trickling water immediately transforms a garden into a soothing and relaxing retreat, bringing a sense of peace and harmony to anyone who visits.
There are many ways you can bring water into the garden, from the smallest of water bowls in a shaded courtyard to an elaborate fountain in a formal garden setting or even a natural pond in a more eco-friendly permaculture garden. Whatever your choice, there are a few things to consider that will determine their effectiveness.
POWER
Waterfalls and fountains operate on power through low-voltage lines. These are connected through a transformer to an electric socket located outdoors, so make sure you have access to this if you're planning to run one. Kits are available from your local nursery or hardware store and are relatively easy to install. If you intend to grow water lilies in a pond with a fountain, keep them away from splashing water because they resent the disturbance and won't flower well.
FISH
Fish are great to have in your pond or water bowl. They keep down the algae and mosquito larvae. I keep goldfish in my outdoor water bowls but they need fairly constant temperatures to survive, so I place the bowls under an evergreen ash to give them a bit of shade in summer. Always let a new pond settle for a couple of weeks before putting your fish in them.
PLANTS
Aquatic plants are also interesting to have in your pond. Most plants will need some sun to thrive. Choose from water lilies with leaves that float on the surface and flowers that sit prominently above them. Water poppies also sit on the surface and add some yellow flowers if you want a change from the pink, mauve or white of the lilies. Arrowplants and reeds give height to the pond and draw the eye into different dimensions. Arum lilies can also be semi-submerged into water by sitting the pot on some bricks and bringing the brim just above the surface.
Most aquatic plants are potted into plastic or terracotta containers in a mixture of equal parts cow manure and compost. Place a 2 or 3 cm layer of coarse river sand on top and don't forget to put some gauze over the drainage holes in the bottom to hold the mixture in place. Slowly submerge the plant and allow the water to rise up through the pot before placing it gently on the bottom of the pond. This'll stop dry potting mixture from spilling into your pond. Duckweed is a small, delicate aquatic plant that floats on the surface and has shallow roots just below the leaves. It multiplies readily and will quickly cover a small pond or bowl. Check out your nursery or even some aquatic plant specialists to find plants suitable for your climate, there are many to choose from to give different effects in and around your pond.
The depth of your pond is very important. Evaporation and temperature variations occur in shallow bowls or ponds. So if you want plants or fish then go for deeper rather than wider, and make it at least 45 to 60cm deep if you want water lilies.
Here's a few ideas:
WATERFALLS
Waterfalls can follow the contours of the land and can make a feature out of a sloped garden. Natural bowls or small pools trickling into each other draw you into the garden and a bench or seat at the bottom gives you a place to enjoy the tranquillity created. Plant heavily around the pools to disguise the edges and to give a more natural effect.
FOUNTAINS
Wall-mounted lion
heads flowing into semi-spherical receptacles make a courtyard wall a
feature.
Victorian style stone tiered fountains go well bordered by formal clipped
hedges.
Glazed orbs with water cascading into a basin are a more contemporary
style.
FORMAL ROCK POOLS
Paved courtyards can feature a rectangular concrete rock pool that is set into the pavers. This works well when combined with Green Goddess arum lilies at one end and water lilies at the other. Another feature can be made by raising pools and including a fountain so water cascades to different levels.
JAPANESE STYLE
Japanese stone water basins look great with bamboo pipe, ladle and pump. Surround this with lots of raked white pebbles, large rocks, camellias, nandina (Chinese bamboo) and Japanese maples.
PERMACULTURE PERSPECTIVE
A good permaculture garden will always include at least 15% water. A number of edible plants can be grown in water. Real water chestnuts (not the ones you buy in a tin) are delicious and it's worth having a tub of these alone. Taro is also a starchy vegetable for eating. The underground bulb is lifted, cleaned and cooked while the plant itself looks great in the pond or bog area with its big "elephant ear" leaves.
Water attracts predatory insects into the garden and is useful for natural pest control. Dragonflies, lizards, frogs and ducks all love water and feed on common garden pests. Make sure you include habitats and shelters to keeps these guys safe.
Floating plants like azolla are an excellent source of nutrients. Because they multiply so quickly just scoop them off the surface and add some to the compost. They also make a nutritious addition to garden mulch.
Recycle and make a
water feature out of these next ideas.
* Old concrete laundry tub (holes filled) with water iris and poppies.
* Old bathtub with water chestnuts and azolla.
* Wine barrels with dwarf water lily and goldfish in a courtyard or even
indoors near a sunny window.
* Tyre pond made from plastic pond lining and edged with an old car or
tractor tyre. Plant with taro and surround with watercress at the water
edge.
* Tyre island for larger ponds. Stack old tyres in the center of a concrete
pond and fill with compost and garden soil. Plant island with bamboo,
sweet rush, water chestnuts and lotus.
If you'd like to learn
more, you can attend one of Veggie Lady's workshops.
Go to The Veggie Lady's website [http://www.theveggielady.com]
or to the Chaos Generation events page [http://www.chaosgeneration.com/events.htm]
for workshop dates.
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