Always something to add to a water garden

By Garron Marsh
TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS (TAHLEQUAH, Okla.)

June 12, 2007 09:21 am

— Seen in Egyptian tomb paintings dating from 3,000 BC, it is clear that water gardens and ponds have been a favorite source of beauty and relaxation for many thousands of years.
Often, early water gardens were the privilege of kings and others of status, reserved for palaces and elaborate displays of wealth.
Today, they have become a popular gardening project for homeowners who wish to beautify their landscape and feel a little closer to nature, or who just want a challenge.
A recent tour featured the homes of Carol and Joe Greenhaw, Andrea and Chris Cape, Marilyn Gail Kaufman, Rita and Tim Green, Marian Hagerstrand, Marjorie and Jim Malone, Pam and Mike Palmer, and Wanda Kinsey.
Ranging from the simple to the intricate, the ponds boast lots of koi, goldfish and frogs, and flora ranging from lotus and water lilies to snapdragons, elephant ears and bamboo.
“You can start one for as little as $100, or however much you want to spend,” said Pam Palmer. “It will take some time and hard work, but you can start with a bucket or a tub. Just buy a pump and that will get you started."
Palmers built a garden in 2002 that features a 18- by 11-foot pond that reaches a depth of 3.5 feet, and contains several types koi fish that can reach 22 inches in length. Although it is officially her “husband’s project,” Palmer gave several tips for those wishing to stock their ponds with fish.
“You should build your pond at least 3 feet deep when keeping fish," she said. "They’ll get bigger as the pond gets deeper."
Betsy Havens, fellow water gardener, commented on fish care.
“They’ll probably eat as much as you will feed them,” said Havens.
According to Palmer, the fish will also eat algae plants and roots in the pond. This process changes in winter, however, when the fish become inactive.
“You should keep the pumps going in winter – don’t shut it down," said Palmer. “And don’t feed the koi. I just cover the pond with netting to keep out the leaves.
The pond of Marilyn Gail Kaufman began about five years ago, with some dead elm trees that needed removal.
“I was in the hospital when my neighbor cleared the trees and started the garden,” said Kaufman. “All of the rock has been collected by hand, mostly from around the lake.”
Kaufman’s favorite feature of her 24- by 13-foot water garden is a hand-stacked stone waterfall, which stands 5 feet tall, starting from the bottom of the pond. Her garden also features an upper and lower level, with wooden bridges, fountains, and lush array of plants and fish.
“Be prepared for a lot of work,” Kaufman said. “It can be constant.”
The garden of Andrea and Chris Cape was also started around five years ago. It measures 10 by 9 feet, and reaches depths of 3.5 feet.
“I really like the water,” said Andrea Cape. “Plus, it is another aspect of gardening that was a challenge.”
According to Cape, after the initial effort of building the garden, upkeep is a simple matter.
“It requires less maintenance than you’d think,” said Cape. “It really takes care of itself if you just clean the filters.”
Cape also advises caution when stocking the pond with fish.
“You’ll need two males to every koi female,” said Cape. “I feed them two or three times a day. Don’t overfeed them or you’ll put too much protein in the water and make it dirty – just like an aquarium.”
Although these ponds can begin as a simple gardening project, many of the owners agreed that water gardening can become somewhat of an addiction. According to Palmer, she has known other water garden owners who have spent in excess of $15,000 on their gardens.
“Once you get started with something simple, you’ll probably want to tear it out and start again," said Palmer. “You’ll always want something else. You’re never quite satisfied.”
“There’s always something to add, or a difference you can make,” Kaufman said.

Garron Marsh writes for Tahlequah (Okla.) Daily Press.

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