As the horticulturist who cares for the aquatic plants here at Denver Botanic Gardens, I am lucky to have a large variety of ponds to work in. More than half a million gallons of water recirculate through the main waterway at DBG, connecting a wide array of terrestrial gardens throughout our 24-acre property. In addition, …
Aquatic Plant Design on Display at Denver Botanic Gardens Read More »
New water features are exciting and always enhance a property — but the gardens that accompany them are often the real show-stoppers that can put the entire scene over the top! Start with the consideration of vertical elements. Would a deciduous tree (or several of them) be desirable to provide shade, shelter and nesting sites …
This year’s submissions were presented blindly to a panel of seven industry experts to determine winners and runners-up in five categories (Best Pondless, Most Naturalistic, Best Under $15k, Ponds by Night, and Fountains & Formal Features). In order to be considered eligible, projects must have been completed between Nov. 1, 2019 and Nov. 1, 2020. …
Meet the Judges of the Fifth Supreme Stream Court Read More »
In a year that kicked off with an unprecedented sense of optimism, 2020 quickly let us down in a lot of different ways. “Good riddance!” we cried in December, as we bid adieu to a year riddled with isolation, hardship and disappointment. Well, we’ve got good news. 2020 wasn’t all bad. As you will see, …
5th Annual Water Artisans of the Year Contest Results Read More »
So, you’ve just created and built an amazing showcase pond, complete with the best waterfalls and master stonework. Why would you just throw in some random green plants when you could integrate some standout plants and flowers that other installers often overlook? Your water garden will have everyone talking! I find it amazing that some …
While all of us love critters and wildlife, in general, we have to keep pond predators like herons away from our beloved koi and goldfish. This video from Foisy Aquatics provides 10 methods to keep herons away from your pond, and this issue can be a great reason to connect with customers and discuss …
Plants with colored foliage are a luxury, an anomaly, and quite often, just the right splash of color or contrast to make magic happen. There are several ways they can effectively transform a display. Foliage, by any definition, has the ability to shape a landscape with its color, form or shape. Botanically speaking, variegated foliage …
Variegated and Colored Foliage for Water Gardens Read More »
The sight and sounds of water in the landscape captivate our senses in a way that resonates deep within our souls. The movement of water in the garden washes away the stresses of daily life. After you’ve had a garden with a water feature in it, you will never again want a garden without one. …
Naturalize Water Features with Terrestrial Plantings Read More »
In summer 2018, Darren DeStefano, a horticulturist at the General Services Administration (GSA) Public Building Service National Capital Region, and Claro Rodriguez from Plant or Transplant collaborated with me to create the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s now prominent waterlily feature. DeStefano designed a feature that is equal parts reflection, color and simplicity. Rodriguez …
‘Waterlily Timeline’ Adds New Aesthetic to D.C. Building Read More »
In this video, Marc, The Pond Advisor from Any Pond Ltd. shows us some of the best flowering plants for waterfall features. A couple of years ago Marc showed us some ideas around a Japanese Variegata Water Iris and now we have some ideas for waterfalls. In this video, Mark shows us how he adds …