The Beauty of an Autumn Pond

Are we really into the month of November already? It seems like August was just yesterday when the waterlilies and lotus were blooming heartily in the water garden. Despite the fading blooms, water gardens still look beautiful during the cooler days of autumn.

This beautiful home is graced with a pond and stream at its entrance.

The Pink Lotus

The lovely Lotus is perhaps one of the most stunning of aquatic plants, from bud to full bloom to seed pod. Is there anything more playful yet elegant than a pink lotus on a warm, summer day?

Outdoor Living Spaces

Now that the weather's warming up, it's time to turn a critical eye to your outdoor living space. Flowers, fences, gazebos and benches are all pretty ... but what really makes your landscape a peaceful paradise is the sound of running water in the landscape. Combine a variety of elements in your landscape to create a beautiful outdoor living space you can enjoy for hours on end.

A cottage-style gazebo provides the optimal viewing vantage of this lovely pond and waterfall.

Pond Paradise in the Backyard

Some might view a wooded, sloping lot as a landscaper's design challenge. But when you incorporate water, the solution is quite simple. Work with the natural slope of the yard to create stunning waterfalls, and create twists and turns around trees to provide visual interest. This yard has it all! From a soothing water feature to gazebo to outdoor kitchen, and more!

Just outside the patio door is a stunning fireplace and flagstone patio that cozies up to a

small waterfall and pond. Comfortable seating provides a great place for relaxing well into the evening.

Pink in the Water Garden

Even though Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Groundhog Day, I'm still thinking spring! So I dug up some photos of pink waterlilies and lotus to enjoy on a rather gray day in Illinois. Words aren't needed to describe these bathing beauties of the pond world ... the photos speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Outdoor Dining by the Pond

Dining outdoors is a refreshing experience, especially when you have friends, family, a beloved pet, and a beautiful view of a pond filled with koi and waterlilies!

On Golden Pond

Although waterlilies and lotus are fading, the spectacular golds and reds of the trees add bursts of striking color around the water garden. A reflective pond doubles your viewing pleasure of nature's riotous exit from summer.

Cattails stretch tall as leaves begin their descent into the gentle waters below.

Gazebos and Water Gardens: A Match Made in Heaven

If I moved into a new house and were granted 2 wishes for the landscape, I would choose a water garden and a gazebo. Both remind me of a fairy tale garden ... or the type of garden you'll see in Heaven. My grandmother in Williams Bay, Wisconsin had an adorable "summer house" in her yard that I loved playing in for hours. She also had a crystal clear stream running through her backyard where we'd catch minnows, search for pretty rocks, and pretend we were in another world altogether. What's not to love about Gazebos and Water Gardens?

A garden bench tucked inside a pondside cottage gazebo makes for the perfect reading spot to refresh your mind and soul.

Outdoor Spaces: A "Peace" of Paradise

With the financial stress of today's economy, we could all use a little "peace" of paradise to calm our nerves and lift our spirits. Investing in a small (or large) water feature is truly an investment in your health. Listening to the melodic waterfall while sitting by the pond's edge is sure to lower your blood pressure and improve your outlook on life.

Placing your water garden near your house allows you to hear your waterfall through open doors and windows. When time allows, pull up a chair and sit a spell outside.