Creating a Reflecting Pool Garden

After you have added a water feature to your property, it is time to decide on water plants, some plants for the surrounding area and perhaps some additional decorations to help create the relaxing space for your enjoyment. There are some simple decorations and color schemes that can create a wildlife refuge or some whimsy to your yard. Here are some ideas and suggestions in helping to create the perfect backyard getaway.

You can create a space of bright reflections with some plants that produce silver and white foliage. You can increase this effect with gazing balls and other decorations. The colors will be reflected in the water, as long as it is keeps clean with a filter, and can really brighten up what might otherwise be a shaded area. Wildlife of all sorts will be attracted to your clean water source. A frog or toad might even make itself at home in your water garden, keeping the insect population down to manageable levels. You can increase the number of birds and desirable critters by planting vegetation that they can hide in or feed from in the water garden or nearby. No matter how old or weary we become, a small pond can bring relaxation and delight to all of us. Adding some fish to the pond and some fun decorations to the area can only increase this sense of fun, and bring a smile to your face every time you look at your landscape.

There are many plants that you can add to your water feature, but everyone has some favorites. If you really love a specific plant that I do not mention here, or if you live in a hardiness zone outside the range of 3 to 8, then I suggest checking in with your garden center or other provider and taking advantage of their experience and expertise. It never hurts to go over your garden plans with an expert before committing to any design or combination of plants. Here are some of my plant suggestions and some general information about each plant.

Crocus is one of the first spring flowers. This perennial emerges from bulbs called corms and can grow to between four and eight inches tall. The foliage is grass like, while the flowers can be purple, white, yellow or lavender depending on the cultivator. When planting around a water feature, I recommend displaying them in scattered clumps through out the garden bed that you plant around the pool, rather than all together in one section. The crocus corms should be planted three to four inches deep spaced around four inches apart during the fall.

Hostas are perennial, mounded plants that can grow to two feet tall. They should be planted around three feet apart. The "Francee" variety has dark green leaves with thin, clean whit leaf margins. The 'Northern Halo' variety has broad creamy borders and puckered silver-blue leaves. Wavyleaf hosta typically grows around one foot tall, with flower spikes up to two feet. The summer blooms are lavender, and the leaves are wavy green with white edges.

The Japanese painted fern is a perennial that can grow to around two feet tall. It has wine red stems, silver-splashed green fonds and weeping habit. It should be spaced around three feet apart.

Labrador violet is a perennial that will grow from six to eight inches tall. It spreads well to create ground cover, but should be planted around one foot apart. It has green and purple leaves that are heart shaped. The mauve blossoms make their appearance in spring to summer.

Rose astilbe or Peach Blossom is a perennial that grows between two to three feet tall. Its foliage is fernlike is accented with feathery blooms in the summer. They should be spaced two feet apart at planting.

The Siberian iris is a perennial that can grow to three feet tall. It has grassy leaves and flowers in blue or white that appear in the spring. I suggest pairing the two colors together and leaving the seed heads on the plants after the bloom for summer interest. They should be planted around two feet apart.

Spotted lamium, or White Nancy, is a perennial that can grow from six the twelve inches tall. The heart shaped silver and white leaves are adorned with clusters of small white flowers in the spring and summer. They should be planted around eight inches apart.

Once you have decided which plants you like most, and taken into account the room that they will need to grow, it is time to map out and plan where you will plant. Do not be afraid to mix things up a little and add decorations, seating or unexpected selections to your landscape.Your yard and garden are only limited by your imagination and the conditions of the space you are working with.