I love a good water feature. One of the first things I did when I moved here was to add a water feature by the front porch steps. However, after seven years the wine barrel we used for the water feature was finally falling apart. So it was high time to replace it.
We picked up this gorgeous Garden Treasures Fountain that is a durable resin material. Reasonably priced, and durable AND beautiful – love it! I love the floral motif and immediately had great ideas for creating a tropical feel with the landscaping around it.
Bold Foliage and Water = Tropical Feelings
Plants with broad, bold foliage help create a lush, tropical feeling in the garden landscape. In this case, because of the shady area, the primary components are hostas and caladiums. I also have a climbing mandavilla vine which also has broad leaves, but is a fast climber and will product trumpet shaped flowers as well.
I used some finer textured plants to contrast with the bold foliage – a container with the last of the snap dragons, and our pretty barberry shrub, helps round out the landscape area around the water feature.
Installing a Water Fountain in the Garden
A ready-to-install water fountain can go up very quickly, making it a fabulous weekender project. First you’ll want to clear the space and remove any weeds. We laid down a nice (biodegradable) weed barrier to help prevent weeds. Then my husband assembled and plugged in the water fountain. I love it!
When the water is still, the flowers are a nice reflection and when the water is running. It’s lovely. I love the sound. I love the motion it brings to the garden. I love that this fountain takes a smaller amount of water which is perfect for drought-prone areas like Oklahoma. I also love that it provides a sip of water for thirsty pollinators and birds. I just love it.
Once the fountain is installed we raked the mulch around the base to give it a sense of being part of the garden. I planted pre-started caladiums around the fountain to bring the bold color and easy-care foliage to the garden. Our perennial hosta is already blooming and bigger than ever – hitting it’s stride in life and just massive. The blooms are beautiful and give the pollinators something to enjoy.
When you select a water fountain, you want to choose one that will fit the style of your garden landscape design. For us this classic floral design fits nicely with our eclectic cottage garden look. For others a more formal Asian-inspired fountain might be nice or a whimsical statue. Lots of options for your various designs.
Do you have a water feature in your garden? I’ve written this post as part of the Lowe’s Creator blogging team and you can find more ideas in the free Creative Ideas magazine!
Jessica | The 104 Homestead says
That is so beautiful and it seems so attainable. So many projects I look at and think “mine would never come out looking that good”. It’s great finding a project that I can realistically do. Thanks!
AngEngland says
Sometimes it’s worth it to have the already-started plants to just pop-in and have gorgeousness all in a single weekend. The entire project (fountain and caladiums) was about $110 bucks because the fountain was on clearance.
lisa M says
Wow, you make it seem so easy! I’ve wanted something like this in my main garden for a long time…..but was afraid it would be super hard to do. I think I’ll stop at Lowes this week and give this a try. Thanks!
~Lisa
Heidi @ Pint Size Farm says
That is beautiful! I love water features, but probably won’t ever add one since water is so scarce in Arizona. It’s top on my list if we ever move somewhere else though 🙂
AngEngland says
It was one of the benefits of this fountain vs something like a pond or replacing the whiskey barrel – the water recirculates so there’s very little waste by comparison.
lisa M says
Love this post! Thanks for linking up to Green Thumb Thursday. I hope you’ll stop back this week and join us again!
~Lisa M
Jack Graham says
Unique ideas!!! Loved all of them. When it comes to select a water feature, many things should be taken into account like pace of the garden, manmade or natural design, size and colour. Some people like contemporary water features which combine both traditional and latest style. Some want stone crafted water features. I love a fountain type water feature which I purchased on my last birthday from Outdoor Living UK.
Ellen Banks says
I love the look of garden fountains outside a home. They create a pleasant atmosphere and catch the eye. Your suggestion to coordinate the style of your garden with the type of fountain is a great idea. You want the fountain to complement the garden and not take away from it.