Incorporate a water feature in your garden

What sounds do you love hearing in the summer? Mine include the laughter of neighborhood children playing outside, wind chimes tinkling in the breeze, and water bubbling from the various water features in my garden. You can enjoy the peaceful sound of bubbling water by adding your own water feature. No matter what size space you have — whether a balcony, small patio or large yard — there is a water feature for you. Fountains are the quickest and easiest water feature to add. They can be found in all price ranges and are made in a variety of styles and materials. Apartment and condo dwellers can utilize a small tabletop fountain. These are easy to set up and look nice alone or grouped within your houseplants or container gardens with your favorite annual flowers, vegetables and herbs. You could also try transforming a basic bird bath into a fountain with an inexpensive (under $20) solar pump. No matter the size of your garden, a fountain can provide an interesting focal point and even nighttime drama if you include a fountain spotlight. Bubblers are another easy DIY project that can be installed in your garden. You can purchase complete kits or build your own. These water features have the extra benefit of providing an oasis for pollinators because the water flow is gentle. If you have more space, you may wish to install a pond in your garden. DIYers can install a preformed pond shell found at your favorite big box home improvement store. Add a pump, a fountain head or spitter, surround with rocks and plants, and you have a unique water feature. Check out YouTube for informative and easy-to-follow instructional videos. If you want to take your garden pond to the next level, you may want to build one using a liner. This approach allows you to create the size and shape that appeals to you. Be aware, however, that this project is not for the faint of heart. Digging and moving dirt, hauling rocks of various sizes, and dragging the underlayment and pond liner into place are all hard work. Ponds can be made more elaborate by adding waterfalls and/or streams. You can let your imagination run wild. If you choose an elaborate pond, you may want to hire an expert. Find someone who will show you their projects and allow you to talk to their previous clients. Ponds of any size or shape can be made even more beautiful by incorporating plants. A vast number of plants thrive in and around ponds. The hardy water lily is a classic choice. These are placed on the bottom of the pond and the leaves and flowers float on the surface. A beautiful and surprising plant that you may not have seen used in ponds is potted canna. Carefully and slowly submerge your pot; the water level can be one to two inches above the pot. The same method can be used with Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos), Obedient Flower (Physostegia leptophyllis), Bloody Dock (Rumex sanguineus) and Dwarf Egyptian Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus). These plants are referred to as ledge plants. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is extremely attractive when planted along a waterfall or stream. Firecracker plants (Cuphea) can be placed in ponds, but make sure to only submerge the roots. Floating plants are the easiest to add to your pond. Consider water lettuce (Pistia stratoides), a rosette-style plant that quickly produces baby plants that create shade if you decide to add fish. Water lettuce is found at most garden centers. Be aware that all water features require some maintenance. Water evaporates and needs to be refilled often. Leaves and other debris need to be skimmed out. Pumps and filters need to be inspected regularly. Fountains and birdbaths need to be cleaned out periodically. The joy and serenity of water features make them worth the effort. In addition, birds and other pollinators will delight in your water feature. This morning I watched a cedar waxwing enjoying my bubbler. It was such a peaceful moment. Consider what water feature works best for you and enjoy your own peaceful moments this summer! Betsy DeFrancesco is an Ohio State University Extension Hancock County Master Gardener volunteer. Find us on Facebook at "Hancock County Master Gardener volunteers."