"Does the bowl in the garden mock nature when night after night green frogs gather to prove it's a pool? Who says you can't make a pond out of a bowl." - Han Yu

Did you notice during the 2005 Pond Tour the wonderful examples of creative works offered by our group? Our gardens, our ponds, our yards have been transformed into wildlife sanctuaries, works of art created with living plants, gin clear water and swimming pets. These parcels of land are no longer ours, we share these creations with nature, with family, with neighbors and with each other. Each oasis having a character all it's own, a garden entrance draped in ivy beckoning you to come in, to explore. You find garden corners filled with exotic plants, a copper figure, a reflective pool or even a gnome with a twinkle in the eye.

I have found a book that encourages you to explore other creative ideas in water gardening. Just when I was about to go into hibernation the pages of Water Gardening in Containers has moved me to reflect on what additions we might make to our own sanctuary next year. This book takes us beyond the whiskey barrel pond garden and moves us to bring our creativity to a new height.

Imagine creating a indoor or outdoor pond garden using terra cotta, sinks, plastic tubs, window box planters, bird baths and more. You can assemble an English Trough from concrete, add your personal touches and in the matter of days seal it and be ready for planting. Even I can put together the Patio Timber Pond offered in this book.

In the spring, instead of planting in those "bare spots" why not create a small water feature by using a container above ground or at a shallow depth. The wildlife will thank you for yet another place they can gather and the guests who visit will find a new spot in your garden to admire.

There are several ideas in this book that I will personally attempt when the sun brings warmth again, the leaves return, and the fish come from their depths to find Mother Koi. You can borrow this book from our library. There just might be a waiting list for this one!

I give this book 3 fish!

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Midwest Pond & Koi Society
P.O. Box 1251 • North Riverside, IL 60546 • 312–409–2081

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