Water gardens are something I have dipped my toe into in only in the last few years. I always thought they were for someone else. They struck me as too expensive (though they can be), too involved (that can happen, too), and too high-maintenance (oh, yeah, sometimes). But, my overarching garden theory is that it’s…
Category: Water gardening
‘Walter Pagels’ and ‘Little Sue’ water lilies are two to consider for your container garden
Two new dwarf, hardy water lilies were introduced to the Garden Drama gardens this summer and I’m excited about what their blooms and pads are bringing to the gardens. Walter Pagels is a pioneer of water gardening in the U.S. and helped to found what is currently known as the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society…
The water lilies are alive! They’re alive!
Hardy water lilies are an investment plant, usually running between $30 and $50 a plant at the nursery or garden center. With that in mind, overwintering them is a wonderful way to build your lily collection and conserve your garden funds. I peeked at my overwintering lilies this week, and they are all showing new…
Water plants will inspire you to find a sunny locale for your backyard pond
Part 2 in the series “Installing a backyard pond” Water lilies Water plants are often what inspire a gardener to dive into water gardening. Water lilies and lotus reign as queens of the water gardening plant world and since both require full sun, siting your pond in the sunniest locale possible could be a priority…
Plotting where to place a pond
Part 1 in the series “Installing a backyard pond” When we made the decision to install a pond (two ponds really, one with moving water, one still), the choice was obvious. We wanted it to be at the back of our property for a secret garden effect. Many questioned this. “Don’t you want it to…
A trip to Soni’s Garden
A week and a half or so ago, we traveled south to Eagan to Soni Forsman’s water gardening retreat. It was a Minnesota State Horticultural Society sponsored event and brought together a great, motley crew of northern gardeners. Garden get-togethers are great times to shoot the compost with your fellow dirt mavens and also get…
Water gardening is something anyone can do, almost anywhere
I got the chance to speak at the Home and Patio Show in St. Paul last weekend on container water gardening. It was such a treat. Wonderful gathering of northerners yearning for spring. I think I made a splash. I will be posting content from my talk over the next few writings. I mentioned that…
Anyone can have a pond in their backyard
If my diminutive back 40 can support an aquatic ecosystem, anyone’s can. My patio pond area started with a store-bought, maybe 25 gallon pre-formed container that I dug (and dug!) a hole in the ground for. Then I added water and stirred! The fountain is an old cistern pump from the farm I grew up…
Garden Drama 