Beyond plants, what makes a garden inviting? Fountains, birdbaths and art

By Trevor Cameron / The Golfing Gardener

Something I truly enjoy when strolling through any garden are surprises, simple unexpected treasures that catch my eye and bring a smile to my face. I come around a corner, or peer down a pathway, or even look behind an old tree and exclaim “Ooooo … and what do we have here?” These focal points can be striking plant specimens, of course, but something like a unique piece of garden art, a birdbath or a flowing fountain adds even more interest to a landscape.

Fountains

There are very few things more pleasant to me than the sound and motion of running water, especially in the heat of the summer. A nice water feature simply cools and soothes the soul. Adding a self-contained fountain to the landscape, or even your deck, patio or entryway, is a solid garden investment, without question.

Modern fountains are built well and most are stained, not painted, increasing aesthetics and lessening maintenance — plus they can always be re-stained for a fresh look down the road. They can be as simple as a small, patio-style bubbler, an upright wall fountain for tight spaces or even an impressive, larger scale, tiered model for maximum visual impact. Choose what works best for you and remember that these will also benefit wildlife — Mr. and Mrs. Hummingbird love to drink in mid-air (as they do on my fountain at home), and other birds will love the water action, too.

Almost all now include LED lighting and magnet driven pumps — very efficient, long lasting and easy on the power bill. The lights add a wonderful glow overnight, highlighting the structure and water action. Many have copper lips as accents, adding a nice patina and producing the perfect flow from one bowl into another while minimizing splash and water loss.

Fountains are simple to install yourself. For heavier ones, make your life easy and have it delivered and set up. Prepare a level base (if installing on soil/soft ground) by pouring the appropriate sized concrete pad, or by packing gravel and puting a thick stepping stone on top. The key is to have a level spot to place the base that will not list or settle, as you only want to do this once. Be sure to have GFI outdoor outlets nearby; running extension cords may seem fine, but trust me when I say this is not a long-term solution. Have an electrician add one if you need; safety should always come first.

Never clean your fountain with bleach, or any chemical for that matter. Simply drain it, use a soft brush to gently scrub the surfaces, rinse and then refill with clean, fresh water. Depending on which fountain you go with, pay attention to how much splash/water loss occurs in addition to normal evaporation and refill accordingly. Never run your water feature when it is dry or you will be replacing your pump, so checking to make sure it is full of water regularly is essential.

Always drain, winterize and cover your fountain for the winter. This sounds complicated, but honestly it is not. The drain plug is simply pulled, and a cover placed over it so there’s no chance that freezing and cracking will occur over the cold winter months. I can only speak for our nursery, but we want you to be successful and have your fountain for years and years, so every fountain that goes home from us includes the appropriately sized winter cover.

Birdbaths

These are a small and simple way to add a fun surprise to any garden, and keeping it filled with some fresh water will be of huge benefit to our birds and pollinators alike. Be sure to clean it regularly (again no chemicals), using just a simple, soft brush and then add fresh, clean water to keep our friends hydrated all summer long. These can be found at local garden centers in all kinds of shapes and sizes, fancy or simple, short or tall. Birdbaths can be made of concrete and stained, or even made like frost-proof, glazed pottery in bright, bold colors. To avoid freezing and cracking over colder winter months, simply turn the top over so it does not collect water, or bring it into the garage for winter, or do what I do: simply lay it on its side for the winter months. If you want my advice, get a few birdbaths; I am up to five now in various locations in my own yard. Multiple areas for our pollinators and birds to bathe is best, and even some on the ground are beneficial — they don’t always have to be elevated on a pedestal.

Garden Art

Just as with plants, statuary comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. There are endless choices available if you look around. From plain and simple to bold and extravagant and everything in between, something for everyone can be found. Most local garden centers should have a good selection of statuary and benches to choose from, including many produced by local artisans, and all made of long-lasting, high-quality materials like glass, cast stone and rustic metal. I can only speak for our nursery, but we display these pieces everywhere on our property among plants of all kinds, trying to inspire our patrons’ imagination and allowing them to envision the treasure in their very own garden setting. Show off your style with garden art, using it to complement your landscape beds and add visual interest, with surprises for all who visit.

So here is your challenge for this week: Meander your landscape and think outside of the “plant box” for a moment. What garden art could you add that would make you and your garden visitors smile? Would the sound of running water bring some tranquility to this spot or that one? Would pieces of statuary look sharp sited here and there, or hung on a fence or tree trunk in various garden spots? What location would be ideal for a bench, a respite place for you or visitors to relax for a moment or two? Then go for it. Choose some garden treasures and show off your style by adding some new surprises to your gardens.

Free class

Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville will host “Seed Bombs” at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 27. For more information or to sign up, go to www.sunnysidenursery.net/classes.

Trevor Cameron is a certified professional horticulturist (CPH) and serves as general manager for Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville. He can be reached at sunnysidenursery@msn.com.