Aqua Therapy for your Garden
Summer is the season for abundant growth in the garden and most plants burst with energy right from spring itself. Most of us tend to harness maximum gardening advantage out of this season though peak of the season can get a little challenging in dry regions. As passionate gardeners, let’s balance out the heat and explore some water features in our gardens in order to make our green experience more joyful..
It is some music to the ears, a treat to the eyes, cool in its feel and smells of freshness. That is to say, “garden is not what it looks like but how it feels like.” As encouraged in many cultures and different garden philosophies, mere sight of water and listening to the gentle trickling sound of water brings tranquillity and has a calming and restful effect on our minds. You can experience a moment of trans, seeing the reflection of the sky in water. A feeling of one universe.
Create a Perfect Ecosystem
Water features in the garden are not just about aesthetics or therapy, it’s about harmony. Remember water is one of the five elements of nature. A water feature creates an ecosystem that will attract more life forms. Birds, butterflies, dragonflies, bees, and ladybugs will be in more regular in your garden. Some may visit to take a dip or sip and some may make it their home. This life around will help to pollinate your garden and even control pest populations. Your garden space will always be more lively and full of action. With squirrels, blabbers and butterflies dancing around water, comes experiential joy of a thriving garden.
Types of Water Features
An elaborate waterfall, water ponds, container water gardens, water screens, pot fountains or birdbaths, there are so many ways one can add a water element in the garden according to one’s space and budget.
Even in the confines of a small balcony or terrace, a water feature can be accommodated in design. From a modest fibre container to an elaborate stone structure, the key lies in your creativity. For those of us who are blessed with luxury of space a natural waterfall or pond can be incorporated in landscaping to blend it with surrounding greens.
Add Water Plants
Though all kinds of water elements we explored are great but its always a good idea to add some style of water gardens in your space thereby making it more lively. And this means adding plants to your water feature. And in that case it should preferably get some morning sun, more importantly for the aquatic floral varieties. Like all other flowering plants good sun is a must to enjoy joyous blooms from Waterlilies, Lotus or even the wild Water Hyacinth.
Trying some submerged varieties like Callitriche, Ceratophyllum, Elodea, and Vallisneria is a great idea as they behave like oxygenators. And the floating varieties like Pistia or water cabbage and water moss help in outgrowing the algae while all duckweed and some edible watercress will make it more complete.
Also adding a few bog plants on the edges in shallow waters can be both aesthetical and functional. Add a few Ferns, Calla lilies, Papyrus, Cyperus, Cattail and may be some Sphangum moss along with Water bamboo to enhance your water body.
So, as summer unfurls its canvas of growth and beauty, let’s embrace the allure of water features, transforming our gardens into havens of serenity and enchantment.