It’s mid-February and many of us are seeking refuge by drinking hot chocolate and watching hockey curled under comfy blankets. At the same time,
our thoughts turn to warmer days and dreams of dangling our feet in our
wondrous water gardens as we listen to the birds sing and watch toads
and turtles sun themselves on the pond rocks.
Winter is a great
time to dig out water gardening books and start planning new things for
this year’s water garden. Much like veggie gardeners turn to seed
catalogs for the upcoming growing season, water gardeners delight in
planning the addition of new fish and plants for the pond.
As your thoughts turn to the lazy, carefree days of summer, consider the following options to enhance your pondering enjoyment:
Add a New Waterfall
Most
pond owners install a water garden in their landscape so they can enjoy
the sound of running water. Chances are you have a waterfall to create
this soothing sound, but why stop at just one? Aquascape has made it
easy to add a waterfall to your existing pond with the creation of its
new Waterfall Spillway. Designed specifically to retrofit into existing features, the Waterfall Spillway makes it easy to add multiple waterfalls to your feature.
Maybe
this is the year to add that beautiful butterfly koi you’ve been eyeing. After a long, cold winter, why not boost
your spirits by rewarding yourself with a colorful jewel such as a new
finned friend that will delight you as it glides gracefully beneath the
lily pads? Fish add personality to your pond and can provide hours of
entertainment. Children love to feed them, cats and dogs enjoy watching
them, and you’ll enjoy being greeted by them every time you visit your
pond.
New varieties of waterlilies become available every year and some are simply downright breathtaking. Consider adding Nymphaea
‘Wanvisa’ to your water garden in 2012. Recently crowned the
Collector’s Aquatic Plant of the Year, ‘Wanvisa’ is the first,
variegated hardy waterlily.
You
might also want to try your “blue thumb” at growing the lovely lotus.
This majestic plant becomes the focal point of any water garden and can
also be grown in aquatic containers placed on a sunny porch or patio.
A
variety of fountains and spitters are available for adding a new
dimension to your water garden. Whether you choose a stylized bronze
fountain or charming resin frog spitter, there’s a decorative option for
every budget and taste. Not only do fountains and spitters add a
whimsical or elegant touch to the waterscape, but they also help provide
delightful sounds in the garden and help to keep the water moving.
Whatever
your water garden dreams may be during this frosty season, be sure to
make a plan for turning those pondering dreams into reality. Scour pages
of water garden photo books, visit pond websites that have
inspirational photos, dig through garden magazines that showcase water
features. Plenty of inspiration abounds to help you plan now for an even
more enjoyable season of water gardening ahead!
Article written by Aquascape Inc.