You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
A few years ago, an enthusiastic pond gardening neighbor encouraged me to challenge myself, and add a water garden at home. With some trepidation, and his gift of a small black plastic, solid bottom pot. I dug my hole and began a venture into miniature ponds.
My pot pond is VERY miniature – 3’ in diameter and about the same in depth. The pot came from the Big Box store, and most carry them. The biggest challenge in placing the pond was to make sure the bottom of the hole was flat enough to keep water plant pots from tipping over when the pond was full. I chose to site it at the foundation of the home, right next to the stairs and porch for easy viewing. All I had to do was to dig a hole slightly deeper than the pot, and the same diameter. By adding some soil to the bottom of the hole, just along the back, the pond form slanted forward and away from the homes foundation. As it is under the eaves, it only gets enough water to keep it filled, but not enough water to cause damage at the foundation level. The top rim of the pond is just hidden by some rocks layed around the edge. Inside the pond I placed a brick or two with a flat stone on top, under the water level. These are at two different heights. Great to perch potted water plants on and to give the 12 cent goldfish a place to hide away from prying paws and beaks. The fish keeps the mosquito larvae at bay. By filling the pot with a lot of plants, I can keep the black interior of it from showing most of the spring, summer and fall.
I am admittedly a very messy pond gardener. The only maintenance I do to the pond is to dig out the plants each spring, and clean it well. The pond looks good in every season but winter. So far I have parrots feather, water lettuce and water hyacinth because nothing can escape into any larger water system. There is no fountain feature in this pond yet (no access to electrical).
This spring I hope to be more creative, like my friend Amy.
Amy has a passion for weird and unusual plants, and her small front garden is a cornucopia of found objects filled with her unique plant combinations. The front steps of Amy’s craftsman style home are wide, and each side has flat stone raised areas instead of handrails. These flat areas are perfect for small potted displays, and Amy mixes all manner of succulents wedged into sewer pipes and chimney pots with her potted water gardens. Amy’s pots are also very simple, and totally care free. She finds pots without holes or seals up the hole well, and fills the pot with anything that will hold the plants up to the surface of the water. She pops in a few snails to keep it all clean and insect free, then fills the pot with plants. Sometimes a single architectural specimen, and sometimes a fanciful mix of other-worldly looking greenery. Amy leaves everything out all winter long, and just tidies up a bit in the spring.
Potted water gardens are a simple and easy way to bring a small water feature into your own garden, without any big commitment!
Thanks to Amy Handler for the photograph and inspiration!
About Glynis Ward
Music, color and gardening - the three go hand in hand in my Electric Garden. I enjoy gardening organically for 12 months of the year in the South and am garden speaker and educator, retailer and occasionally work as designer. I write about rock'n roll, vintage fashion and of course, gardening.
Posted by Calif_Sue (from San Jose, CA) on April 8, 2008 at 2:39 PM:
I was wondering why you call it that?
Enjoyed the article!
...
Posted by girlgroupgirl (from Atlanta, GA) on April 11, 2008 at 1:20 AM:
Sue, I'm glad you enjoyed the article! I call my garden "The Electric Garden" after the name of a song by one of my favorite bands, The Nerve. [HYPERLINK@www.detour-records.co.uk]
My garden is very psychedelic!
Glynis
...
Posted by Calif_Sue (from San Jose, CA) on April 11, 2008 at 10:48 AM:
Ah, learn something new everyday!
...
Subject: Answer to no access to electrical
Posted by joanfav (from Walnut Creek, CA) on April 8, 2008 at 1:12 PM:
We had the same problem. They have all kind of water features that run on solar panels. Check the internet.
...
Subject: This is wonderful!
Posted by doccat5 (from Fredericksburg, VA) on April 4, 2008 at 8:01 AM:
I can't tell you how much I appreciate your article! Although my DH may not feel the same way, I see another honey do in the offing. I love water features, but have been hesitant, because it would be very labor intensive for these 2 old foggies. Something like your mini water garden would be perfect! And I could probably do most of it myself. Thanks for sharing this information! Really appreciate it! Great job!!
...
Posted by vossner (from Richmond, TX) on April 4, 2008 at 9:07 AM:
great article. I have a 6 gal. pot which I've made my water garden. I love it and so do all my pets. No matter how fresh their water dish is, they are absolutely thrilled to drink out of my water garden.
I have a HDepot water lily (missed out on the coop), rush and water lettuce. I don't change the water often but don't want to add anything since my babies drink out of it. Snails, huh? I will have to tray that--I have a vast supply of those, lol
...
Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 12:19 PM:
Nice article, and something I would like to try. Thanks.
...
Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on April 4, 2008 at 1:51 PM:
A nice idea!
...
Posted by hechizada (from Montevideo
(Uruguay)) on April 9, 2008 at 5:34 PM:
enjoyed your article. I'm trying something similar, but a bit bigger. I've found a mini-pool (a heart-shaped, 1.8 m wide and 0.80m deep sky blue thing). We're digging the hole and planning the sorruondings aftrer placing it.
...
Posted by mooose80 (from Osseo, MI) on April 12, 2008 at 11:24 AM:
I love the snail idea I have been looking for ways to keep my pond natural. Thanks
