Water Garden

There are a lot of reasons to have a water garden. My first excuse to build a water garden at my house was because I wanted to grow some water plants. It doesn't require much water to float a few choice plants. A tub or basin that holds water is enough for many plants. There are a slew of aquatic plants that can float on an inch of water or less or love to be in a bog or un-drained container. Water noise to block out the sounds of the traffic and neighbors attracted me. A stream seemed like a challenge. But once I made one I was rewarded by the increased bird-life that was attracted to the water. My enthusiasm was fueled so when I got a chance I built a pond for someone else. Finding reasons for water features beyond their simple beauty has been easy. Surprisingly they have not been that difficult to construct.

California natives that can go in or around your water feature:
Aster chilensis * California Aster, Pacific Aster
Carex tumicola
Heliotropium curassavicum * Salt Heliotrope
Hibiscus lasiocarpos, Hibiscus californicus * Woolly Rose Mallow
Juncus tenuis Blue Dart
Lilium humboldtii * Humboldt's Lily
Lilium parvum * Sierra Tiger Lily
Lobelia cardinalis
Ludwigia peploides
Mimulus cardinalis
Mimulus guttatus
Polypodium californicum * California Polypody
Polystichum munitum * Western Sword Fern
Prunella vulgaris lanceolata * Lance Self Heal
Scirpus cernuus * Fiber Optic Grass
Sisyrinchium californicum * Yellow Eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium striatum * Satin Flower, Rush Lily
Sisyrinchium striatum Aunt May * Variegated Satin Flower
Stachys albens * White Hedge Nettle
Symphyotrichum chilense * California Aster, Pacific Aster
Trifolium willdenovii * Tomcat Clover
Typha domingensis * Southern Cattail
Viola hederacea * Ivy Leaf Violet, Native Violet, Australian Violet, Tasmanian Violet, Brisbane Violet

Links to some Water Garden Projects:
Bamboo Bridge
Fountain in a Healing Garden
A spring fed pond
Fish spitting into a well
Pond with a bridge
Small Pond in a large crock