By Bethany Christo | Toptoto by Heidi Drexler Photography
You don't have to go far away to find an oasis. Installing water functions such as ponds, waterfalls and fountains in your outdoor area can only add a few steps from your door from your door.
The soothing plates of a waterfall that flows over weathered stone, the buzzing of insects and the twittering of the wildlife, the calming shadow of indigenous grasses and aquatic plants, the soft blisters of the floating koi under a quiet pond, the gentle splash of a graded fillered burn -Back -Mera -Mera is located.
“The sights and noises of flowing water, together with birds, pollinators, koi and beautiful plants, reduce stress and strengthen their mood,” says Ginny Mueller, Water Garden Enthusiast and Pond-O-Rama marketing and publicity chair at the St. Louis Water Garden Society. “There is a reason why people are tilted near water bodies – it relaxes, calms and entertains.
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Photo by Bob Henson
For 35 years, the St. Louis Water Garden Society has brought together all levels of local water gardeners and pond lovers to meet, share their experiences and resources, compare notes and enjoy their hobby together. SLWGS is the best known for maintaining the Jewel Box Water Lily Ponds in Forest Park and the annual donation water garden tour Pond-O-Rama, which takes place on June 21 and 22 of this year. President Bob Henson is a retired chemistry teacher in the Rockwood School District, voluntarily registered in the Missouri Botanical Garden and received a Master Garden award from the University of Missouri, MU extension. It has bridges and paths that strike around several ponds with water lilies, koi and goldfish. A moor full of carnivorous plants; separate orchid and tropical greenhouses; Layers of lush waterfalls and winding currents; Stainless steel sculptures and a fountain from an old wagon wheel; and more.
“It is a widespread misunderstanding that water gardens are difficult to maintain,” says Henson. “A well -designed, you can lead to a largely self -sufficient ecosystem that is both more beautiful and easier to enjoy than the monoculture of a lawn. Like everything that eliminates future problems with good planning.”
Chris Siewing is the owner of Nature's Recreations, a design and installation company in St. Louis, which specializes in water features that look carved out of nature. A master-certified Aquascape contractor and owner of his own $ 1 million recreation backyard-free swimming pool and the water garden with Missouri limestone, KOI, water lilies and tropical yearbooks is true that the planning of the type, size and budget, which is best installed, and the required height And the component of the predecessor and the number of cards required will determine.
“The trends change over time – pond fluid water cases were very popular at one point, but in recent years it has withdrawn to complete ecosystems and Koi ponds that are representative of real hobbyists,” he says. “We have also seen a large increase in leisure or swimming ponds in our market in recent years and many others in the whole country.”
He estimates that most ponds need a few hours a week, tops, with leisure ponds being a little higher, similar to the maintenance of a pool. He says that water features can be installed in every season – his professional tip is to start in winter, since contractors are not so booked and have more time to devote themselves to them. “The winter in St. Louis are usually not hard enough to close most functions, but they have to be informed about their special function on how to maintain them and what to do and not in extreme cold temperatures,” adds Siewing.
Photo by Donald Richardson
Mueller agrees, and for simple maintenance she suggests that water gardeners select local water and moor plants that can grow well in our challenging climate of St. Louis and be left in the pond in winter. “Since a water feature is a long-term investment, the owners can also consider how it can be improved over time: A simple waterfall without a pond waterfall is a great entry step that requires little maintenance that can go over to a koi pond with a full ecosystem or even a recreational swimming pool,” she says.
Donald Richardson, board member of SLWGS and co-chair of Pond-O-Rama, designed his own backyard oasis to minimize maintenance and wild animals, live outdoors and to maximize a pleasure all year round. He suggests taking the time to take the depth and size, the place and the sunlight of the ponds into account on the desired plants. He also recommends using a shelf design to protect himself from hungry herons, falcons and nerzes. “I have reduced the risk of bird by having a deeper area of the pond (approximately 3 feet deep) with increased plant shelves under which the fish can hide, and by using high plants around the pond to get raptors from getting in and gripping a small koi,” he says.
All water garden professionals and local plant enthusiasts agree that adding a small water can improve a nursery and a general feeling of calm in an outdoor area. “Water gives every garden room unique movement and sound,” says Richardson. “The Japanese can create a whole world in a few square meters. They are not only koi -ponds and brooks. With modern kits, they can easily install a revolating bubbler or well to give their garden or even a balcony. Birds of life. “
Henson adds: “Listening to the sound of flowing water gives a calming effect, transfer anxiety and is an outlet at the end of a stressful day.”
Recreations of nature, 1917 Meyer Drury Drive, Arnold, Missouri, 636-223-2330, recreateMature.com
St. Louis Water Garden Society, slwgs.org