water features

I love small water features.  I have several scattered throughout the backyard and plans for one more in the front.   Some people might say I have too many (I'm not in that group).  The problem is there's always a place for a few cubic feet of water.  And I love the sound.  So I just keep adding them.  I'm not crazy about the current fad for tabletop water features--they're just too small, I'd rather have a plant.  And then there's the problem with those cords coming out in peculiar places.  I'm not at all fond of a lot of the larger ones.  Part of the reason is so many try to have a "natural" look in too small a space.  Everything seems out of scale.  Every so often I come across a really great large water feature, but all too often they miss.  And then there's the problem with all that equipment.  But I'm about to find out if I can pull one off.  My husband has requested a pond that would be big enough for large fish.  I know where I'm going to put it--there aren't that many choices in my yard.  I know the basic shape.  I'm still noodling around with how I'm going to bring the water back into the pond after filtering.  And I'm still sifting through an endless stream of information and advice on pumps, filters, uv lights, liners and on and on and on.  And, of course, I've got to figure out where I'm going to put all that equipment. 

Copper Fountain:  Old double-walled copper candy kettle surrounded by several varieties of hosta, houtuynnia, ajuga, fern, 'Biokovo' geranium.  If you look closely, you can see bits of the green wire fencing I use to try to keep my dog from using this bed as a shortcut.  From the battered state of the fencing you've probably figured out I haven't been altogether effective.  In the background you can see a bit of Art Deco terra cotta from the old Tulsa Cadillac Building.  It was, unfortunately torn down in the 1990's.  Also, in the background you can see the edge of my disaster of a swimming pool and the world's ugliest fence (watch for improvements in 2002).  The copper candy kettle was purchased at an auction in the mid-1980's for around $125.00.  I think I got lucky that day.
Water Table:  This is a narrow (15") water feature running under a 3-part wrought iron table.  Papyrus and water lettuce grow in the water; pennywort grows around the limestone ledge.  New this year, it has become our favorite afternoon sitting area.  The pennywort was planted from 6 3" pots earlier in the spring--from the way it has grown I think it's happy.  The wrought iron table was a garage sale find--the wide section should swing around lengthwise to fit against the other sections, but in this location I liked the different widths.  Once again, the world's ugliest fence highlights the background.

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