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March 24, 2008
Posted by: Kate Hart at 8:40 pm
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Everyone should have a special place in their home that inspires them. It can be a favorite fireside chair, a grouping of art from your travels or a crafts closet in an extra bedroom. I personally love the outdoor water garden oasis that I created on my back deck. It gives me a sunny spot to enjoy a morning cup of coffee, watch the kids play and appreciate the view of my backyard.
It was really simple to create this tranquil space. I started by adding a lounge chair with a comfortable chair pad and pillows to the corner of my deck. I then added a small tile top table to use for a holding a candle, book or a beverage.
To create the water garden I found a large ceramic urn that did not have any holes in the bottom of it. If you find one that has a hole you can use plumber’s putty to plug the hole or use a plastic pond liner cut to fit the urn. I then filled the urn with water and added my favorite water plants. I prefer plants with different colored leaves and that are different heights. I opted for a tall purple leafed taro and a yellow water Lilly which would bloom all summer.
Since the water garden was contained to an urn it did not take up much space. The only maintenance it required is adding a piece of a mosquito dunk every two weeks or so to keep mosquitoes from breeding and adding water every few days as it evaporates in the summer heat. For a finishing touch I hung a decorative wall fountain on the wall behind it so I could enjoy the sound of the trickling water.
It is a chilly day here in Philadelphia and I am looking forward to the warmer weather so I can enjoy this space again.
Have you created an oasis in your own home that you want to share?
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1. Good post, Kate! You reminded ne that I need to work on my oasis. Mine is a small patio off of the master bedroom with a chimenea (sp?), a fountain, a bistro table and chairs and a few oil lanterns. It is a relaxing space.
by Marla — 3/24/08 at 10:01 pm #
2. HI Kate! We have a rose garden in the side yard of our back yard. It is pretty maintenance free with a gravel walk trimmed with cobble stones. We added an arbor a few years ago and have a teak bench under it where I love to escape for quiet moments.
Cathy
by Cathy — 3/24/08 at 10:28 pm #
3. It’s pretty cold in Toronto right now too Kate. I can’t wait until I can be out in my little oasis as well. We have a free standing lion fountain that sits next to our cabana. In the summer I sit out there with a good book. I buy a couple of palm trees and put them in planters by the cabana and pretend that I’m on a tropical island away from it all. In the winter, I guess my reading area by the fireplace would be my oasis. Great post and I liked your suggestion about creating a water garden out of an urn. I was wondering how you were going to introduce the sound of running water – great idea to have a wall fountain nearby. There’s something so soothing about the sound of water. Looking forward to your next post!
by Charlene — 3/25/08 at 9:14 am #
4. Hi all. Thanks for your comments.
Marla- Your patio sounds so inviting. I love the idea of adding a chiminea.
Cathy Lee- There is nothing more lovely than a rose garden! It sounds like a perfect spot to relax.
Charlene- I need an indoor space too! I like your fireside chair idea. I am hoping for warmer weather soon so I can work on my outdoor space again. Thanks for stopping by
by Kate Hart — 3/25/08 at 9:23 pm #
5. I like your idea of the urn filled with water and water plants. I was wondering how you empty it to change the water and how you keep the water from getting “nasty”. I have a teeny back yard but I do have a covered patio and the urn would surely look good.
by Diane — 3/29/08 at 4:55 pm #
6. Hi Diane,
Thanks for your comment- I am sorry it took me a day or so to get back to you. I was helping a client with a home they are listing this week.
I do not have a problem with the water getting “nasty”- I add a piece of a mosquito dunk every 2 weeks or so to keep mosquitos from breeding.
I find that the water evaporates and I need to add new water every few days so no algae has time to grow.
I am going to set mine up in about a month- I promise to post pics. If you make a water garden too please share.
KH
by Kate Hart — 4/1/08 at 9:56 pm #
7. Hi Kate and Diane!
Last year I had a ground level small patio in the front of my condo. I created two container water gardens which turned out very lush and added serenity to this small outdoor space. I agree. If your water garden is not close to a lot of traffic, you shouldn’t have to change the water. I changed water once after I first filled my small pond and large flower pot containers. There was a film that appeared to be very oily and I think it was probaly from exhaust fumes in the air. I lived at that time near a major street and intersection. The plants I chose grew very fast due to direct sun exposure throughout the day. I also plan to start another larger (yet, small) pond this year in my new small backyard and will set-up the containers on my upper front and rear decks.
I also love tropicals and plan to add Elephant Ears along with a few other dwarf plants though I live in the South suburbs of Chicago. Wishing you both beautiy, serenity, peace and good fortune…
Samantra
by Samantra — 4/8/08 at 2:33 pm #
8. I found a wonderful article in a gardening magazine about how to turn a birdbath into a fountain that contained pond plants. It seems like it would only cost about $20 to make once you had the birdbath…just some tubing, a small pump. The bubbling water would keep the mosquito breeding from happening.
by mc — 5/11/08 at 6:13 pm #