Bringing Light to Your Water Garden

Several years ago I met a woman who had built a beautiful water garden in her backyard. She had poured a lot of sweat and tears into her creation -- moving rocks; digging an enormous hole with a shovel; planting lush water plants; and carefully selecting the perfect specimen of koi.

After three months of back-breaking labor, she hosted a party to showcase her lovely creation. Just as dusk arrived, a beautiful array of colored lights appeared to be floating on top of the water. It was stunning and the perfect accessory to highlight the masterpiece she had created.

Today, there are numerous water garden lighting designs available. Perhaps some of the most unique and beautiful are the "Dancing Water" misters. A misting unit attaches to an underwater pump and shoots water up and out, making the water appear as if it is dancing across the top of a pond. Additionally, there are multi-colored lights attached to the unit, which creates a stunning display of color as the water dances.

There are a variety of misting nozzles that can be purchased. Each offers a unique pattern of water spray and all help to reduce pond maintenance due to the constant circulation of water. Misting nozzles can be purchased with or without lighting. However, if you purchase a mister without lights, you'll be missing out on some of the elegance these misters offer.

Floating lights have become a popular form of water garden lighting and add an element of fun. These round balls are connected to a waterproof cable and can be partially filled with water to adjust the submersion level. Floating lights can be purchased individually or in sets of two or three.

EggLite's are an easy and affordable way to add light to a pond, pool, or water garden. They can be used in or out of the water and are available with four color lenses. EggLite's are in the shape of an egg and are a compact spot light that can be placed throughout the garden.

Rock lights are an innovative design that adds illumination to any garden, walkway or path. These unique lights are designed to look like rocks. They blend in with the natural setting of a water garden. The light is camouflaged and cannot be seen, so it appears as if the rock illuminates.

Underwater lights are mounted on a platform and placed at the bottom of a pond, or they can be recessed and mounted on the side of a pool or hot tub. Underwater lights are generally constructed of plastic, stainless steel, or copper and include a variety of colored lenses.

There have been many technological advances in water garden lighting over the past five years. Consumers now have access to an abundance of affordable options, allowing them to create their own water garden masterpiece.

If you are considering adding a water pond to your backyard, it's wise to conduct research or attend a class in pond building. While there are many products available to help make your job easier, there are still important aspects to be considered.

Using a pre-formed pond liner can help eliminate a great deal of frustration. Most are manufactured from high density polyethylene (HDP) and can be stacked to create a multi-tier pond. It's recommended to use a liner underneath the pre-formed pond to prevent damage from rocks, roots, or other debris.

In order to keep the pond clean, you'll need a pond filter. There are many different types of pond filters including: skimmers filters, biological pond filters, waterfall filters, pressurized filters, and back-flushable pressurized filters. The filter you choose will depend on the type of pond and its use. For instance, koi ponds require more filtering than garden or goldfish ponds.

There are numerous books available on the topic of water gardening. Visit your local library and check out books on the subject, or type in "Water gardening" or "Koi pond" at your favorite search engine.

Water ponds are a delightful addition to any backyard or garden and can help to reduce stress. These tranquil settings provide numerous opportunities to explore nature and create a safe haven for Koi and other species of fish. Although they do take time to install, a water garden will provide you with years of enjoyment and require little maintenance after the initial setup.