Random Snaps Of My Day READ HERE

Just a day in my life. An ordinary day. But every day is special in some way.

The water gardens are doing great. We've had a ton of rain. So they keep getting very full.

Some changes have been going on inside.

The mums are budding out. Soon they will bloom. Then I'll cut them back. And they will bloom again come fall.

The peach colored cone flower has bloomed.

My Water Gardens READ HERE

This is my water garden area. 

I name the areas on my patio. There is the bird bath garden, the raised bed garden. And in the veggie department, I have one lone tomato plant so far. 

I actually think that is fruit, isn't it? A tomato?

And to balance the galvanized tubs of water, we arranged some pots of herbs and flowers around it to give it balance.

I'll take more pictures later. But the water gardens are just to the right of the gazebo. My various gardens kind of zigzag across the patio.

Do you know what this is? The galvanized container of marbles with water? That is a bee and butterfly bath. They can hover on the marbles and take a bath without drowning in the water.

There is nothing like the calming sound of water to relax you. To sit under the gazebo and close your eyes and just listen. 

The male cardinal calling to his mate. Branches whispering in the breeze. 

It is simply magical.

I dug up mint and a canna lily, washed off most of the dirt, and planted them in pots that Israel drilled holes all around so that it would sit down flat in the water. 

I used pea gravel as the top layer in the pots. There is bigger gravel on the bottom of the pots. Some plants have about an inch or so of dirt. 

And this, my friends, is my version of a water garden. A gathering of different type containers. Water plants and herbs and flowers in them. 

I'm sure I'll be adding and changing things as I go. But this, for now, is what I envisioned.

Updated to add: Don't have standing water over your marbles in your bee/butterfly bath, due to mosquitoes you don't want laying larvae. 

Pour in water about halfway up the marbles and they will be able to get to water, but it isn't standing where mosquitoes will lay larvae... See this:

I found this information here. I am going out and pouring off any water "standing" above the marbles. Live and learn!

Fundamentals Of Water Gardening READ HERE

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If you want to add a relaxing zen type atmosphere to your gardens, you might think about adding a bubbling or trickling fountain to your outdoor space.

If you have bubbling or moving water in your fountain, this will keep mosquitoes from laying larvae in your water feature. Not only are they a pain in the butt, but mosquitoes can be dangerous, as they carry several diseases.

Mosquitoes will only lay eggs on water that is still and not moving.

Do make sure that you are using an outdoor electrical outlet. And if you must use an extension cord, make sure that it is for outdoor use. 

And that the outlet has a ground fault circuit interrupter.

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Potted Water Garden Out Of An Old Tub:

You can add floating plans to the fountain, such as waterlilies. They will float on the surface of the water to shield it from egg-laying mosquitoes. 

You can also stock the fountain with mosquito fish, guppies, killfish, or another type of fish that eats mosquitoes. They won't stop the mosquitoes from laying eggs in the fountain, but they will kill the larvae. 

Here are things you will need if you are making the water feature yourself in a container:

1. Container (pot without holes, galvanized tub, etc.)

2. Pump or air bubbler

3. Floating plants

I'm going the route of galvanized containers and using pumps from Home Depot. 

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If you want an urn fountain that has a basin beneath it, you can buy fountain kits. You can order them from companies like Aquascape and many garden nurseries.

The water recirculates from underneath.

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Click here to find out how to make this water feature. Below is the basic premise for building it.

And if you live in an apartment or have only a small space, here are some examples of container water gardening you can implement in your outdoor space.

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Click here to see them. I'm sure one of them will suit you.

I think you will enjoy creating your water fountain, and then sitting back and watching the show.

I will be showing mine in the next day or so. Not quite done yet!

Sunday On The Patio & Water Gardening READ HERE

Some have asked me for the dimensions of my patio, so I just went out there and measured it. It is 12 and a half feet by about 32 feet. 

I have a galvanized tub with a pump inside it right outside the door. So I have the patio door open and the screen closed, and I am enjoying the sound of the water and the chimes tinkling in the breeze. 

I want you all to know that I was very uplifted by your kind comments yesterday and today. It meant a lot to me. I appreciate your steadfast support.

I will focus on the patio, gardening, home decor, pupsters, and reflection posts, as I call them.

Are any of you interested in learning about water gardening? In other words, containers of water with water plants and possibly some goldfish?

Well, I've been interested in doing this for some time, so I've been reading up on it.

If you have still standing water, you would have mosquitoes laying eggs to worry about. But water moving keep mosquitoes at bay. Thus the trickling water in my galvanized tub. 

If you put the right combination of plants and fish in the water, you needn't worry about feeding the fish or mosquitoes laying eggs!

Is anyone interested in going on this learning journey with me?

My water gardens will be situated between the birdbath garden area and the gazebo seating area. I've been planning it in my head.

We can learn together if you like.

I have a pretty big patio. So I can enjoy containers of vegetables and flowers, water features and water gardens. Plus, of course, my gazebo seating area.

I have my "gardens" separated into distinct areas. This gives a variety of focal points to the patio.

(The photo is somewhat lopsided. Sorry.) The solar bird bath is just waiting for the birds. 

I've learned that when you put out a new bird bath or bird feeder, the birds often won't come to it for a few weeks. 

They watch from the trees to see if it's safe. But then Katie bar the door!

We're learning a lot out here on the patio. I will be figuring out my water gardens in the coming weeks. 

Please join me if you want to expand your outdoor space into small areas of water gardens, plants and goldfish.