Magical Waters

Ron Peabody

DeKalb County Master Gardener

Close your eyes and imagine: the tranquil sound of flowing water, perhaps a stream, a waterfall or other water feature...birds splashing, stretching wings, preening feathers...others singing from perches in nearby shrubs.

Yes, water can bring a new dimension to your landscape. Tranquil and soothing, water has that magical quality that gently moves your sensory experience into another dimension. It's hard to explain, but we've all been there to experience that special feeling. And yes, it is true water is like a magnet inviting an assortment of feathered friends to your outside living space.

Water features can come in the simplest form, really anything that will hold water, to the more elaborate variety such as a waterfall, stream, pond or a combination. The only limitations: your imagination and the budget.

On the simple and low cost end of the spectrum, consider adding a bird bath to your patio arranged as a focal point along with your container plants. Adding a bird feeder or two to complement the water and container plantings will enhance your avian encounters.

Perhaps take your imagination a step further. Consider designing your own water feature. An antique hand pump, some sort of catch basin, a small aquatic pump and some half inch plastic tubing and you have the makings for a unique water feature you can call your own. Most garden centers carry the small aquatic pumps, plastic tubing and other plumbing options. There are lots of ways to take this simple concept of pumping water from a catch basin, to a higher point, to then trickle down, over or through some other strategically placed object, to eventually fall back into the catch basin creating a never-ending cycle (as long as there is enough water in the system).

If you truly are a "do-it-yourselfer," you may be inclined to get a bit more elaborate with your water feature. Many garden centers carry pre-formed plastic ponds and waterfall kits in varying sizes and configurations. A shovel for excavation, some real live, aquatic plants, some gravel and rocks, the small pump and plastic tubing mentioned above, and you're ready to create. Keep in mind that these do-it-yourself systems may not be self-sustaining as far as water quality.

On the other end of the spectrum, if your landscape space and budget will allow, you may want to consider an even more elaborate water feature( waterfall, stream, pond, etc. ) installed by a professional contractor. Today water features are one of the hot trends in landscaping. Manufacturers of aquatic components and systems have made huge strides in improving the simplicity of design, construction and performance of their water feature systems. Many of these systems incorporate biological filtration making them almost self-sustaining. Many contractors have added professional design and installation services to make these high end water features a reality.

Another less obvious means of incorporating water in the landscape is the "rain garden." Here the idea is to catch rain water from the roof, driveway and other landscape features and channel it to a shallow pond or catch basin engineered into your landscape. In essence you are creating your own wetland right on your property. When properly designed and planted with species that like wet feet, you have an environmentally friendly haven for butterflies, birds, frogs and many other creatures of nature. Plants such as sweet flag, blue flag iris, marsh milkweed, cardinal flower, marsh blazing star and New England aster are great choices for a rain garden. There are many more.

So, if you'd like to take your environmental awareness to the next level while creating something that's really on the cutting edge, consider a rain garden on your piece of turf.

Our purpose in this short article is not to make you an expert waterfall designer or pond builder, but rather to tickle your imagination about how you can bring the magic of water to enhance your outside living experience. So start imagining...creating...with water. Happy gardening.

If you have questions or comments about this article, home gardening or about the Master Gardener program, call the Master Gardeners, c/o University of Illinois Extension DeKalb County office at (815-758-8194) or e-mail dekalb_mg@extension.uiuc.edu.