Water Garden



		Now imagine warm soft breezes, budding trees and plants, birds building their nests andit's the weekend. You can relax! How? Grab a cool drink and a book and head for a place where the sound of cascading water plays rhythm to birdsong. Where fish glide through clouds of sculptured lotus blossoms amid the reflection of sky and trees. A trip to Cancun? No. Strolling on a Hawaiian isle? No. Holding court by the pond in your own garden? YES!
Watergarden
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	With a few hours of free time and less than the price of dinner in a fancy restaurant you can create the above scene yourself or hire a landscape artist to do it for you. But let's say you're on a budget. No sweat! Well, maybe a little perspiration. Mark out the area and the shape of the water garden you want. Then dig out the area and remove all sharp objects and roots. Be sure to leave shelves of earth around the edge for potted plants. Pond plants require varied levels of water. In one area of your pond, dig to at least 30" deep. Line your project with pond liner or, for a budget liner, 4 to 8 layers of 4 mil black plastic. To hold the liner in place while filling with water, weigh down the edges with large stones or bricks. Using a garden hose, slowly fill with water. Depending on the size of your water garden, it takes one to four days for the water to be free of chlorine and safe for fish and plants. You'll need a submersible pump and an outdoor electric extension cord. First measure from your power source to the water garden to know how long a cord to purchase. You might even have a cord stored away in the garage or basement. Next you need to know the size of your water garden. Measure the diameter and depth to determine how many gallons of water the pond will hold. Purchase your pump accordingly. Be certain the pump is submerged in water before plugging into your power source. Once filled, cover the edge of the liner or sheeting with stones, bricks, etc., heavy enough to weigh down and hide the edges. This would be a good time to visit a local pet store for a few gold fish. Price $1. Add the fish. Voila! Once your pond is working properly there are a variety of water garden fish from which to choose. Tip: Feed your pond fish throughout warm seasons and until the temperature goes below 50 degrees. During cold weather, the fish will be somewhat dormant. Fish will also eat mosquito larva and keep the surrounding area free of these pests.
	Now that the major work is done, you can be creative. Add a waterfall using large rocks. Create a path around your pond and/or a sitting area. Depending on your choice of water plants, you can also add a water fountain which easily attaches to your pump. Care is easy. Each month reach in and take out the filter floss and replace or clean with the water hose. Once or twice a year unplug the pump and submerge in a bucket of clean water, plug it in again and recycle the water until it flows clear. For a healthier water garden environment you can use oxygenating plants like Autumnal starwort (Callitriche hermaphroditica), Willow Moss (Fontinalis antipyretica), Water violet (H. palustris) and Elodea crispa (Lagarosiphon major). All these keep the water free of algae. If room allows, add water Iris and water lilies or hardy lotus (Nelumbo Nuciferous) with large 12" single blossoms edged in rose-pink that gradually fade from yellow to creamy-white. The fish, by the way, multiply and glisten in the sunshine. Check out our online shopping suggestions for everything you need to get started. Apartment, condo dwellers and others with limited space can enjoy the art of water gardening in tubs. Families with small children can insure safety with tub gardens filled with rocks to reduce the water level and enjoy a sharing experience at the child's level. For people who are away from home during the day, there are night blooming varieties of water plants to enjoy like the more fragrant night blooming tropical water lilies. Water gardening can be the easiest gardening. Once you're set up, there are no worries about rainfall and no weeds to pull. At night the reflection of the moon and stars in the water's surface and the soft gurgling sound of moving water are as inspirational as they are calming. Items you'll need to create your own watergarden: shovel, pond form or pond liner, outdoor electrical outlet and cord, submersible pump, plastic tubing, pond plants, fish. For information on water garden plants and care click here.