The Lovely Lotus

I'm in love with the lotus. Is there any other aquatic plant as beautiful or graceful? It belongs to the genus Nelumbo and consists of only two species ... the yellow-flowered American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) and the pink Asiatic lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). These two species have been grown and bred for centuries, resulting in hundreds of hybrids that range in size and color.

In my mind ... this is what Heaven looks like.

Fountains Aflow in the Garden

We're drawn to the sound of water ... while walking in the woods it beckons us to glimpse a nearby creek. When shopping, we're lured to the center court fountain to sit a spell and rest our weary feet until the next store tempts us to browse new trinkets. In your landscape, a fountain can be tucked into any corner that begs for a focal point.

A grouping of fountain rocks greets visitors near the home's front door. An underground basin holds water that is circulated by a pump up through the rocks, where the water spills over and falls back into the basin, covered with gravel.

We Have a Water Garden Book Winner!

Thanks to everyone who participated in our first blog giveaway! I hope all of you continue to enjoy the water gardening photos on this blog ... taken by water gardeners from across the country. Congratulations to Gabriele who won our two water gardening books ... Water Garden Lifestyles and Container Water Gardening for Hobbyists. The winner was chosen using Random.org. Here are a few more "water garden lifestyles" photos to enjoy ...

Every generation enjoys the water garden lifestyle!

Giveaway: Water Gardening Books

You deserve a little rest and relaxation ... and you have just 2 more days to enter to win 2 water gardening books that will show you how to rest and relax in your very own backyard oasis.  So if you like looking at photos like this ...

The Sound of Waterfalls

Waterfalls add delightful sound to the garden and can be customized for your listening pleasure. If you live near busy traffic, you might want a grand waterfall to drown out the noise of cars rushing by. But if you live in the country, a small idyllic stream or waterfall can create just the right melody for harmonizing with crickets and birds. Whatever your fancy, the perfect watefall can be created just for you ... so sit a spell and enjoy!

Fallen logs are strategically placed to make this stream appear as though it's been part of the landscape for tens of years.

The Wonder of Waterlilies

Monet painted many water gardens and waterlilies ... and for good reason. The serene beauty of waterlilies stretching regally above the water or floating gracefully on the pond's surface inspires many an artist ... whether painter, photographer, or writer.

This Red Attraction waterlily pops out against the bright green lily pads.

Water Gardening Book Giveaway

We're giving away two beautiful, water gardening books ... perfect for your coffee table or for sharing with friends and family! Leaf through pages of stunning photographs showcasing waterfalls, ponds, container water gardens and more! You'll be inspired to create your very own backyard oasis after leafing through the wonder of nature contained in the pages. Details on how to win is at the end of this blog entry ...

As you thumb through the pages, imagine yourself lounging on a deck like this one, curled up with your favorite book while a melodious waterfall provides a little background music to enhance the mood.

Water Garden Whimsy

A babbling brook, a laughing waterfall, a flirty fountain ... beckon you to sit a spell and enjoy the wonderful whimsy of a water garden.

Frogs delight in their playground as the world awakens to spring, ah spring!

Create a Container Water Garden

Maybe you've dreamed of having your own water garden but prefer to dip your toes into this wonderful gardening hobby before diving in head first. Let these photos inspire you to create some fascinating container water gardens.

A small brass leaf drips water into this orange pot nestled in between striking coneflowers.

Backyard Oasis: From Drab to Fab

This backyard oasis located just west of Chicago had a patchy lawn that was an eyesore for the homeowners when dining and relaxing on their cozy deck. The space was transformed into a beautiful water garden with a playful stream and lush plantings.

This before photo shows the patchy lawn that was simply wasted space.

The Magic of Kid-Friendly Ponds

Innocent eyes grow wide with wonder at the sight of a backyard pond. So much to explore as tiny fingers dip into the water in hopes of petting the golden fish gliding by. A nearby frog plops into the pond amidst squeals of delight. A water garden hypnotically draws a wee one to its shore for hours of exploration and fun. Truly, what child can resist the call of Mother Nature?

No one can resist the urge to feed a few hungry fish. Imagine this little boy's delight when the fish come up out of the water ... it's like a scene from Disney!

Nightscaping the Pond

Winter always seems to allow more time for sleeping and dreaming, and what I like to dream about most on wintry days ... is summery outdoor enjoyment! There's nothing quite as magical as being outside on a summer evening when the crickets are chirping, citronella candles are flickering, and the melodious sound of a waterfall is playing in the background. Rather than write about special summer evenings by the pond, I decided to share a few of my favorite photos that illustrate the beauty of landscape lighting. Energy efficient LED lights from Aquascape were used in these photos. Enjoy!

Landscape lighting is reflected in the pond.

Winterizing Your Pond

Putting your pond to bed for winter doesn’t need to be an arduous process. Sure, it’s sad to say goodbye to your finned friends for a few months, but following a few simple tips will ensure that your fish joyfully greet you again in the spring.

Remove leaves and debris
Putting a pond net over your water feature before leaves start falling from trees is the easiest way to contain and manage leaf control. Once all the leaves have fallen, simply roll up the net, discard the leaves, and put the net away until the next time it’s needed.

If you didn’t install netting, you’ll probably have a build up of leaves and debris that need to be removed. A long-handled pond net makes an easy job of scooping the debris from the bottom of the pond. If you leave the debris on the bottom of the pond, you’ll be creating a bigger mess to face in the spring.

It's Not Cool to Have a Hot Pond

Your pond doesn’t need to reach the boiling point or feel too hot to you in order to cause stress or irreparable harm to your pond life. In fact, the temperature might feel darn pleasurable to you as you dip your toes into it after a long day of work. Once the water temperature rises above 80 Fº, you may have problems. Your fish might appear stressed out, gasping for air close to the water’s surface or especially close to a fountain or waterfall.

Warm water has a low capacity for holding oxygen, while cooler water can hold gigantic amounts of oxygen. Warm water and increased activity go hand and hand, and that increased activity means the fish require more oxygen when less oxygen is available, thus creating a vicious cycle. Stressed fish often begin to develop diseases, and soon enough you’ll have a domino effect.

When Your Pond Awakens in the Spring

Now that spring is here, you’re probably noticing some changes in your pond - your fish are coming back to life and you may even be able to see some plant growth. Some changes that are taking place, however, aren’t so desirable, like that excess algae growth that you’ve noticing. Understanding the transition that your pond makes from winter into spring and summer is essential in maintaining a healthy pond ecosystem.

You may have just spent your weekend cleaning your pond – or having your pond contractor do it for you. A couple of days … weeks pass, and you notice an incredible growth of string algae. “Not again,” you screech to yourself. “I thought my pond was clean!” Well, my friend, cleanliness does not necessarily mean algae-free, especially in the cool water of the early spring.

The Nitrogen Cycle - Demystified!

You’ve got a pond and you know it’s important to include a good balance of aquatic plants and fish in your water garden. You also know some basic maintenance is important too, like removing decaying leaves in the fall or cleaning the pond in the spring. But you may not fully understand why these things are important to maintain water quality and clarity.

Fortunately, you don’t need a degree in environmental science to understand the cycle of nature that can influence the health of your pond.

The nitrogen cycle might be one of the most important cycles on earth because it’s the building block of all organic life forms. This is an important cycle to know and understand because it can help answer a lot of unanswered questions you might have regarding fish health and the water quality of your pond.

A Primer on Pond Plants

Aquatic plants are a very important step in achieving a truly balanced ecosystem pond. Regardless of why you got into the water gardening hobby, adding aquatic plants to the pond is an important part of the water garden. They provide beauty and naturalization with a huge array of plant choices.
Most importantly, they help balance the pond’s ecosystem and provide valuable biological filtration that removes nitrogen, ammonia, nitrates and other minerals from pond water. These excess nutrients are often the cause of unsightly water conditions. The end result helps to minimize pond maintenance, leaving more time to enjoy your pond. Without aquatic plants, your pond would not be able to function as a complete ecosystem.
Aquatic plants can be classified into a few main categories: water lilies, marginal plants, floaters and submerged (also known as oxygenators). Plants can also be put into two basic types known as “tropical” and “hardy.” Hardy plants will over-winter in colder climates and tropical plants are more suited to warmer climates, although tropical plants are often used as annuals in colder climate zones.

When Your Pond Begins to Thaw

Depending on where you live, your pond might be showing the first signs of thawing … or it may be another month or two before that happens. No matter your geographic location, here are some tips for when your pond begins to thaw.

You may see lots of string algae. That’s okay since nothing is taking the nutrients out of the water at this time and the bacteria is not yet active. Don’t panic! It’s the only green plant growing so leave it alone.

Once your pond is cleaned out, some algae may grow again. Remember, it will probably still be cold and the above information is still relevant.

Recipe for Container Water Garden

1 part love of gardening
2 parts love of water
A dash of creativity
A pinch of imagination

Mix together in a barrel, bowl, tub, or other receptacle and enjoy a gorgeous container water garden that was invented by the best designer in the world – You!

Pond Ice Sculptures

Keeping your pond running during the frozen months of winter will allow you to enjoy the beautiful ice sculptures that form in the stream and waterfall. Although beautiful, it’s possible that the ice buildup can form dams that could divert your pond water out of the pond. Check on the waterfall and stream and monitor the water level periodically throughout the winter. If you see an ice dam forming or the water level dropping at a high rate, your pond might be losing water because of the frozen sculpture and it might be time to turn off the pump for the winter. If you decide to leave the pond running until warmer weather however, your main concern is to ensure there is enough water for the pump(s) to operate properly.