VAN NESS WATER GARDENS, AND GIFT SHOP, Upland, California 
: If's Easy to Build Your Own Pool 
LOCATION. The pool should be exposed to full sun, ana 
should not be built too close to such trees as Pepper, Walnut 
or Fig, as the leaves, having a strong acid content, falling 
into the pool will injure the fish. 
Lilies connot be expected to bloom unless the sun shines 
into the heart of them at least part of the day. 
After deciding on location of pool, a very easy way to 
plan size and shape is to use the garden hose, tracing on 
the ground the exact plan you desire. We suggest that you 
make your pool as large as your space will permit, as there 
are so many water plants you will want. 
For the front yard the formal pool will best fill the re- 
quirements of good design, but for the back yard the in- 
formal pool works out beautifully with a rock garden. 
An informal pool is much easier and less expensive to 
build than a formal one, as it can be built without forms. 
For an informal pool, after deciding on size and shape, dig 
out soil to depth of 2 feet and level off. Shave side wals as 
near perpendicular as possible, as walls which slope are that 
much wasted space in your pool, and gather Algae making 
pool unsightly. Tamp walls and floor and reinfoice with 
heavy fencing wire, covering walls and floor. 
The concrete should be poured continuously, so there will 
be no joints, and as it is poured the reinforcing should be 
pulled up to center of concrete, thus making pool stronger 
and less apt to crack. 
In building a formal pool, by excavating carefully to the 
exact shape and size of the pool and carefully trimming the 
edges there will be no necessity for an outside form. Allow 
about 6 inches space for wall and build inside form. The 
walls should be reinforced, and after it is poured, allow it to 
harden until the next day. Remove forms and pour botiom 
of the pool. Finish as directed below. 
Cement. The proper mixture of cement is one shovel of 
cement to five of sand. Dry mix well, then add enough 
water to make a rather stiff mixture. In cold climates, where 
heavy freezing may be expected, the concrete should be 6 
inches thick; in mild climates 3 inches is ample. 
As concrete is poured, it should be well tamped to take 
out the porous places and insure yourself of a water tight 
pool. Allow cement to become thoroughly set, then apply 
a thin coat of 1 part cement and 3 parts sand which has been 
screened. When this is hardened apply a coat of pure 
WATERPROOF cement. 
Be sure to keep moist as cement hardens, spraying with 
a very fine spray from hose, at intervals, as the slower 
cement hardens the stronger it becomes. 
After it is thoroughly set it may be filled with water, 
filling very slowly. Allow water to stand in pool for a 
week to soak out the alkali; drain off and when dry, sweep 
thoroughly and the pool is ready for planting. 
TUB GARDEN 
If you live in an apartment you may enjoy the pleasure of 
a water garden. Purchase a dishpan and put in aboui 
three inches of soil and plant Water Poppy, Water Hya- 
cinth, Water Snowflake and some of the Water Grasses, and 
place in a sunny window and you will be pleased with ihe 
results. Two or three fish will do well in this environment. 
Then you may have a real beauty spot by making a TUB 
GARDEN. The one illustrated below has a group of 5 
barrels and is one of the most attractive spots one can ima 
gine. 
Saw barrels in two and apply a heavy coat of Asphaltum 
paint inside and out to preserve the wood. Sink barrels 
in soil and pile rock around them to hide the barrels. There 
are a number of Hardy Lilies that do well in this space; 
among them being the Paul Hariot, Aurora, Pink Opal, and 
the Helvola Pygmy Lilies. 
In the Tropics, the Panama Pacific, and the August Koch 
do well. Then there are so many water plants that do wel: 
in a small space that there is no end to the possibilities ci 
this type of Water Garden. This one was worked out with 
a Rock Garden. The following plants will complete the pic- 
ture; Lemon Day Lily, Fountain Grass, and any of the pool- 
side plants listed on page 16. 
Before ordering you may be interested in checking the 
TUB GARDEN COLLECTIONS on page 5. 
TUB GARDEN 
Part of a group of 5 TUB GARDENS, combined with Rock Garden, planted with Tropic Lilies and Poolside Plants. 
Page Eleven 
