registered in u. s. patent office 
Volume XXII 
August, 1912 
Number 2 
The Desirability of a Water Garden 
HOW YOU MAY MAKE THE SUMMER HEAT LESS OPPRESSIVE AND THE DROUGHT LESS DESTRUCTIVE—THE 
VARIOUS KINDS OF WATER GARDENS—WHAT YOU MAY PLANT AND HOW TO CARE FOR EACH VARIETY 
by William Trick er 
W HEN the heat of summer is at its fiercest you may chance 
to find your way into someone’s garden where there is a 
fountain or a pool. Here the temperature seems at least several 
degrees lower and the vegetation several degrees greener and 
more luxuriant. It should help you decide to install some sort 
of a water feature on your place and will give you an opportunity 
for the new delights of water gardening. The overflow from 
your fountain or pool, with a little ingenuity, can be used to irri¬ 
gate dry patches of the garden, you can attract the birds and 
ally them on your side of the fight against the garden pests, and 
you can do much toward mitigating the burning summer heat. 
There are innumerable forms to satisfy every desire. If the 
water expenses are an impor¬ 
tant item you might wish to 
limit yourself to a small bird 
fountain or a pool filled by 
the garden hose. A stream 
through your property is the 
ideal condition, for it can be 
utilized in all manner of ways 
and the opportunity it af¬ 
fords should not be neglected. 
Even if it appears to be in an 
inaccessible location it can be 
utilized. Have you thought 
of the hydraulic ram ? It 
works away without engine or 
fuel or human agency and 
can lift water for fountain or 
pool what seems a remark¬ 
able height and distance. 
But let us consider the gen¬ 
eralities of planting the water 
garden; its form and style 
must of necessity be deter¬ 
mined by the peculiarities of 
the situation and the specific 
demands of the individual. A 
water garden may be of large 
dimensions covering many 
acres of natural ponds, bogs 
and swamps, where water 
lilies, Egyptian and Japanese 
lotus, together with all the 
varied species of bog and 
aquatic plants, trees, bushes, 
etc., both native and exotic, 
revel in all their natural prod¬ 
igality. Such a garden can only be constructed and maintained 
at a great cost, and only a few of our large public parks and 
gardens make an effort to construct such a garden, but are con¬ 
tent to furnish a part and are content with a display of the various 
water lilies, etc., in artificial ponds. But it is this attraction that 
has awakened the desire to produce such charming effects or 
possess such beautiful flowers in one's own garden, though on a 
minor scale. Hence the average water garden is of moderate 
dimensions and in many instances consisting of a few tubs only. 
For this modest water garden there is a great field of choice in 
selecting the planting specimens. Water lilies or Nymphaeas 
are universally known and offer a wonderful diversity. The 
early varieties of the hardy 
Nymphaeas commence flower¬ 
ing in April and continue un¬ 
til midsummer. The tender 
varieties commence flowering 
in June and continue until 
frost, making a long and con¬ 
tinuous season unequaled by 
any other class of flower. 
Besides the advantage of a 
long blooming season, water 
lilies as cut flowers are valu¬ 
able for decorative purposes, 
especially the tender varieties. 
All water lilies of the temper¬ 
ate zone with one or two ex¬ 
ceptions have floating flowers, 
that is, they rest or float on 
the surface of the water. 
These are beautiful flowers 
for shallow dishes or bowls. 
The many varieties of Nelum- 
bhim or lotus classed as 
hardy aquatic plants are in a 
class by themselves. These 
produce flowers on tall stems 
four or more feet high and 
are amongst the choicest of 
aquatic plants. The water 
lilies of Africa with the many 
new hybrids produce flowers 
on stout stems eighteen to 
twenty-four inches high 
standing clear of the water, 
strong and rigid. These are 
best adapted for large 
If the item of water supply is a serious one you may at least provide 
for a small bird fountain such as this 
( 75 ) 
