If you add anything to your garden this summer, make sure it’s a water feature. The sound of flowing, bubbling water brings an immediate sense of lushness, peace, and calm to any outdoor space. Water features also help create temperate microclimates within your garden, add personality and uniqueness to your landscape, and provide an opportunity for a wider array of plant species. While the process of adding a pond or water feature to your garden can feel intimidating, it doesn’t have to be! Here are some of our favourite water features and why you should add them to your outdoor space this year.
Yes! A water feature is one of the easiest ways to turn your landscape into a multi-sensory experience, combining the sights and smells of your glorious flower garden with the soothing sounds of gently flowing water. Whether it’s a pond, bubbling rocks, or a fountain, a water feature makes the perfect garden addition sure to make your space stand out amongst your neighbours.
There are many kinds of water features you can add to your garden, each with their own specific benefits. Here are a few of my favourite options:
Bubbling rocks are a personal favourite of mine and Guelph’s population of local birds! From woodpeckers to finches to cardinals and even a kestrel or two, adding some bubbling rocks is a surefire way to attract more winged wildlife to your garden. What’s more, bubbling rocks are an ideal way to provide a water source to your neighbourhood pollinators. The shallow water of the bubbling rocks is perfect for the tiny little legs of bees, butterflies, and other tiny garden helpers because it allows them to enjoy a drink without the risk of drowning!
Aside from the wildlife benefits, the gentle splashing sound created by bubbling rocks is an easy and lovely way to add a bit of privacy and separation to your space with white noise.
No more having to listen to your neighbour’s every conversation; the gentle sound of the water will drown everything out, allowing you to sit back and relax!
The wonderful thing about ponds is that they let you play with reflections. Whether it’s a structural plant you simply adore, flowers along the bank, or a stand of brilliant birch trees, seeing your surroundings reflected in your pond will only double your and your guests’ enjoyment of your space.
If you’re looking to add a little extra magic to your garden using your pond, string up some patio lights around it to make it glow and add some night-blooming lilies to turn it into an absolute evening oasis, the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine with friends!
These days, we’re at home less and at work more, so making your garden pond more evening-accessible will help you make the most of your space during our short Canadian summers.
Royal City Nursery’s Landscape Solutions has ample experience installing breathtaking water features, and our all-time favourites have to be streams and waterfalls! Not only do they provide the white noise and privacy of bubbling rocks, but they’re also an absolutely perfect way to integrate plants into your landscape that might not otherwise thrive in your yard. Dot some water plants, reeds, and water-loving irises along the banks of your stream or waterfall and submerge yourself in tranquility!
You can’t go wrong with a water fountain! While they’re the smallest water feature options, they serve your garden in a big way by creating a wildlife attraction and pollinator safe haven, along with providing a delightful source of white noise. They may not provide the same immersive, transformative experience as some of the other water feature options listed here, but they’re still a wonderful way to bring a little slice of aquatic paradise to your garden!
If you’re dreaming of adding a pond or water feature to your garden this summer, Royal City Nursery’s Landscape Solutions has all the knowledge, supplies, and resources to help you make it a reality. We’ll even help you with the most challenging part: choosing the right water feature for your space from all the amazing options! Stop by our garden centre in Guelph, ON, today for more expert tips and friendly advice.
