Small Water Features

Hi All

For centuries the qualities of water have been used to give life and energy to a garden. The balance of water, stone and plants was first perfected in China and Japan, and the Romans introduced graceful stair-pools, fountains and indoor water features.
Today the sound of water running over a waterfall, the reflections of sky or trees in a pool, or the flash of color and life in a fish pond, all add new and captivating dimension to a garden.
If the idea of adding a water feature to your garden is a little daunting you can always start 'small'.
Almost any container capable of holding water can make lovely accent pools when positioned correctly. A lined half barrel with goldfish and water plants fits nicely into a rustic setting, and although you will need a small filter and pump to keep the water clear, is easy and inexpensive to set up. I have seen old wheelbarrows, baths, terracotta bowls, even an old laundry sink, all used to create stunning water features, and of course there is always the tranquil look of a birdbath.

If your preference is for a small but more sculptered feature, there are elegant pedestals supporting water covered balls, small water walls, a vast array of free standing metal or stone sculptures designed to allow water to cascade over them, and
water spills to attach to courtyard walls.

It doesn't take a lot of effort or expense to create a small water feature, but placement should be considered carefully, especially if you have young children.
Water in large or small amounts can be dangerous for young children, even a pail or shallow bowl full of water can be life threatening to a toddler.

More Gardening Ideas

Until next Time, Happy Gardening
Margarete
webmaster@antspants.biz

Flowers and Fragrance

How blessed we are to have so many wonderful perfumed plants and flowers available to grow in our gardens. Most gardens have an area to display perfumed plants, allowing you to enjoy not only the beautiful perfumes drifting through your garden, but also beautiful perfumed blooms for flower arrangements inside your home.

There are however, many people especially children, with allergies to pollens and some, or all perfumed flowers. Excluding the offending plants from your display is often the safest way to protect your family or friends from the discomfort that allergies cause. In some cases, perfumed plants have been bred to provide gardeners with an abundance of the glorious blooms without the offending pollens and perfume, talk with your local nurseryman to find out if they are available in your area of the world.

For those who can have a fragant garden, there are some beautiful plants to choose from, including the wonderful bursts of red, pink, or white flowers of the timeless camellia, the star shaped flowers of the gloriously perfumed stephanotis, the perfection of the intoxicating gardenia, the lovely fragances and blooms of roses and many others.

There are plants that will only release there perfume at night, filling the night air with their magical fragrance. Some orchids are fragant but only after sunset, jasmines, night scented tobacco, the beautiful moonflower and many of the herbs, all contrive to work fragrant wonders through your garden at night.

If you don't have enough space to display your fragrant plants, you can grow them in large tubs each side of your front entrance, or display them on your balcony.

For more about fragrant plants go to:

Fragrant Plants and Flowers

The

Ants pants Gardening Newsletter

is a great way to keep up with the latest gardening news, and gardening books and products recommended by the AntsPants nursery and landscaping team.

Ants Pants Gardening Shop

Until Next Time All The best, And Happy Gardening

Margarete