| Even if you want a big water garden with a | | | | they've enjoyed their first creation so much |
| fountain, waterfall, stream, and a variety of | | | | that they want to do a second, more ambitious |
| fish and plants, make a starter garden first. | | | | feature, building on the skills they have |
| A small-scale project offers experience | | | | learned. Beginning gardens can also provide |
| you'll find helpful when tackling larger | | | | the first piece of a much larger project. For |
| projects later. A starter garden brings the | | | | example, your small pool could eventually |
| beauty of water to your landscape in a | | | | become the foot of a waterfall or stream. |
| minimum of time and for much less cost than | | | | Clay pots and pottery shards create a |
| it takes to develop a large water garden. It | | | | whimsical that takes little time to build or |
| is also more manageable when it comes to | | | | maintain. In cold climates bring such a |
| time, requiring less than an hour of | | | | fountain indoors for the winter. Your |
| maintenance every few weeks. You can have a | | | | starter garden with a fountain could be just |
| water garden with a, in a small space. | | | | a temporary one until you move on to bigger |
| Sometimes called mini ponds or mini gardens. | | | | projects. If you dispose of it, you can reuse |
| Starter gardens set by an entrance are a | | | | the flexible liner and move flagstones and |
| delight for visitors. Tucked into a corner of | | | | boulders in the landscape to another site. |
| a patio, they're a pleasant source of sound | | | | When finished with a water garden container, |
| or a sparkling focal point when incorporated | | | | you can fill it with soil and use it as a |
| into the landscape. You can make a starter | | | | planter. And you can reuse a pump in a new |
| water garden with a fountain that's formal or | | | | water feature or sell it to another aspiring |
| informal, raised or in the ground. A starter | | | | water gardener. Fish and Fountains For plants |
| water garden with a fountain is the logical | | | | and fish, a mini garden should hold at least |
| choice for small yards or patios and mini | | | | 5 gallons of water, but leave out the |
| gardens since they all provide a point of | | | | Splashing interferes with plant growth and |
| interest in a courtyard or in a tiny plot | | | | creates currents the fish have to fight. |
| outside of an apartment. Home or Factory Made | | | | Instead, equip minimum-size gardens with a |
| Fountains? Urns are popular containers for | | | | small poolside spitter fountain or a gentle |
| fountains. And they're easy to set up. Simply | | | | aquarium bubbler to aerate the water without |
| install a small pump in the bottom of the urn | | | | creating too much disturbance. If water |
| and fill with water. Starter gardens can be | | | | becomes cloudy or foul smelling in a small |
| handmade or arrive from the factory ready to | | | | starter water garden with a water fountain, |
| install. Make one from a ceramic pot or try a | | | | remove 10 percent of the water from the |
| small kidney-shaped pond formed with flexible | | | | bottom with either a siphon hose or water |
| liner and tucked into a flowerbed. A pre-made | | | | pump. This reduces the buildup of toxic |
| fountain, outfitted with fish and plants, or | | | | organic wastes. |
| an aboveground preformed garden complete with | | | | |
| flagstones stacked in a low wall around a | | | | Elizabeth Jean writes water fountain and |
| liner can serve as a starter garden. There | | | | related topics for Garden-Fountains.com, the |
| are even portable water gardens. A starter | | | | Internet's premier destination for wall |
| water garden with a fountain is an | | | | fountains, indoor fountains and distinctive |
| inspiration. Many people who begin small find | | | | water features for your home and garden. |