Handpicking the Right Plants for Your Serene Water Garden

A water garden is a natural environment that you will return to time and again for serenity and peaceful reflection. It is more than just putting together an attractive design. Instead, it is about setting the stage for a highly personal experience that is all your own. No element in your water garden can create this experience more than lush green vegetation and exotic flowers.

So, if you are using a holistic approach to building your water garden, and each element is interconnected, choose your flora and fauna wisely. These natural elements will draw you in more than any other component in your garden.

Cultivating Harmony Through Simplicity

Another expression of serenity is harmony — feeling a sense of oneness with your natural surroundings. The best way to achieve a harmonious environment is by simplifying your design. Rather than planting an assortment of colors, try choosing two or three colors that complement each other. Too many colors stir the mind. Fewer colors, however, relax the mind and allow you to focus more.

Soothing Colors that Relax

The relationship between color and mood is well documented. For instance, some colors such as red, yellow, and orange generate energy and excitement. Other colors such as green, brown, and deep blue have a calming effect.

Greenery offers a serene backdrop that is suited for any quiet water garden. So, if you want to create a tranquil atmosphere, then start with greenery as the foundation. Some greenery that works well in a more relaxed setting includes Creeping Jenny, Horsetail Reed, Taro, Water Lettuce, or Sweet Flag. Some flowers that promote a peaceful setting include Canna, Pickerel, Blue Iris, Cattail, Papyrus, and, Water Lilies.

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Plant Textures that Inspire

An effective way to foster a calm environment is to create texture. You can do this by adding plants at different depths in and around the pond. Varieties include:

• Deep-water plants. Secure the plant in a pot and submerge the pot at the bottom of the pond. The entire plant, however, is not fully submerged. Examples of common deep-water plants include Arrowhead, Tape Grass, Water Willow, Water Violet, and Golden Club
• Submerged plants: These are plants that grow exclusively under the water. Submerged plants receive nutrients from the water and keep the water clean and clear throughout the growing season. Examples of submerged plants include Anacharis, Hornwort, Mermaid Plant, Lemon Bacopa, and Rotala.
• Floating plants: Floating plants require no soil. The roots take in nutrients strictly from the water. There are a variety of plants that you can put in your natural pond. Some of the most popular include Water Hyacinth, Water Lettuce, Frogbit, Ferns, Salvinia, and dozens of different flowering plants.

Connecting with your Favorite Plants

Whether you are an avid gardener or merely a plant enthusiast, you have a connection with plants and nature on some level. Therefore, it is important that you choose plants you have a deep connection with to place in your garden. The stronger your bond, the more likely you are to invest time and energy into keeping your garden healthy.

If you are a beginner and do not know which plants you connect with, then visit some local nurseries in your area. You may find that you are instantly drawn to some plants while others produce no connection at all. The more time you spend with your greenery and flowers, the more you will discover which plants you love to cultivate and nurture.

At Reflections Water Gardens our go-to aquatic plants are; hardy water lilies, pickerel weed, arrowhead, iris, sweet flag, marsh marigold, rushes, and sedges. We typically recommend choosing native plants whenever possible and can help you choose elegant options that are right for your water garden and geographic location.

Build a Beautiful Water Garden Today

If you are getting ready to launch a water garden project, then Reflections can help. We offer a wide range of features and options to help you build the perfect serene water garden for your backyard.

To find out more about our products and services, call us today at (815) 955-4911 for a consultation.