April 26, 2012

An Old Spigot and SIX Water Lily Blooms!



It's a water lily palooza out there in the garden today!  Oh my, so much lily goodness going on a girl can hardly stand it!

Five hardy 'Colorado' water lily blooms and one bloom on the tropical Madame Ganna Walska beckon to us across the patio.  Come. Look. Linger. Bring the camera...

Read about the fascinating Madame Walska here and here to learn more about her gardens, Ganna Walska Lotusland.


The lovely, dainty Madame Ganna Walska


If you've ever given any consideration to adding a stock tank pond to your landscape, I would encourage you to do it.  Don't worry that it won't work out, it will.  With a little effort, the right plant choices, some sun and some fertilizer, you'll have a beautiful, low maintenance water garden.

We bought a 4' x 2' stock tank from a farmer's supply store, used sand to level the surface, then simply added water and a solution to remove chemicals and metals from the water (for the health of the fish).  Visit a reputable nursery for water plants, the solution to detoxify the water, fertilizer pellets and fish, (if you're adding them).  I went to Hill Country Water Gardens in Cedar Park, explained what I was trying to accomplish and they helped me out with plant and fish selections.  I am using mosquito fish and a couple of goldfish to keep the mosquito larvae in check.  Their website has a lot of good information about keeping your pond healthy too.


Oh, yes.  I almost forgot.  The spigot.  My husband and I discovered this old spigot in the garage of his parents a couple of weeks ago.  It belonged to my husband's grandfather and when I saw it, I knew I had just the place for it. 

The sound of gurgling water is appealing to me and it's especially welcome in the summer when Texas white noise (air conditioners)  is so prevalent and drowning out the softer sounds of the garden.

To make the fountain, we used two pieces of galvanized pipe and a galvanized elbow (to make the turn), the spigot and a small pump (you'll also need a fitting to attach the pump to the galvanized pipe) to recirculate the water.  I  absolutely love the whimsical addition to the stock tank and it means even more knowing we re-purposed a found family object into a little garden treasure.


Really.  You won't regret it for a minute!


25 comments:

  1. that is really pretty! good going!

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  2. Absolutely gorgeous! Love the color of those water lilies. PS I saw pictures of your garden on Pam's blog Digging. Beautiful! Love your arbor *Swoon*

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  3. Such pretty blooms!

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  4. I was wondering when your water lilies would start to bloom. So pretty! Lovely new/old additions!

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  5. Only 4'x2'? That's a very manageable size. How deep is it? I've been thinking of adding something like this (even though I just put in the pond). :-)

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  6. Thanks, Steph. It was fun having another gardener here to share the joy of spring with. It was cool too to see my garden through her lens.

    Alan, it's 4' round by 2' deep. It is very manageable and easy to care for. Everything lived through that horrid freeze of winter 2010/11 and the hellacious drought of last year.

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  7. Beautiful post! Love the liles... our wild ones are forming on the lake. Can't wait till they bloom it looks like Monets garden when they do! Come visit... www.creativecountrymom.blogspot.com

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  8. What a great idea! We have been debating whether we should install a pond, but this is an idea for us to consider as well. I can see why you enjoy it so much...just lovely!

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  9. Very pretty! I like ponds and water gardens. I want a bog garden filled with carnivorous plants.

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  10. Your water lilies are stunning! And, I LOVE that you re-purposed a family find. I have been thinking of putting in a stock tank pond for some time. My husband and I keep changing our minds on where it should go in the garden.

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  11. Truly delightful!! I love that water sound too - and the little birdies will come curiously to sip there. :)

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  12. I LOVE that spigot - and the pond - and the water lilies.

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  13. Iv'e been working on my "Texas" garden room for 18 months. It's about 30% complete (I think). I purchased a 6' round tank a year ago at a garage sale (yes this is agricultural kansas) for $40. A fellow employee gave me a 2 x 5' oval tank this week, however it will be a planter as it has many holes. Then I purchased a 2 x 4 oval horse tank 3 days ago, and it is more to the scale of the room. So I suppose I am tank rich. lol. Your water garden looks great and I like the plumbing too!

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  14. Such an amazing collection of water lillies.

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  15. Lovely! A stock tank pond has been on my 'someday' list for a while, and yours is great inspiration. Love that you added in the family heirloom spigot. What sort of sun does your fountain get?

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  16. Amy, the tank gets afternoon sun. This time of year it gets dappled sun 12:30-2:00 then hot, direct sun until sunset It's a hot, dry spot that I had a hard time planting. With the tank in place, it's visually refreshing and much more lush. I recently moved it from the center of the yard and I'm so glad I did. It seems to have solved one of my problem areas!

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  17. The spigot fountain is truly inspired...even better that it has some personal history :-)

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  18. What a great find that spigot was. Adds just the right touch and I imagine helps to aerate the water as well.

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  19. That is quite lovely. We dont seem to have stock tanks in the UK. I have tried an old tin bath but I dont think it was quite big enough. I may try again if I can find something big enough

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  20. Love my pond...freezing right now and the water lilies have retreated a bit...hard freeze 3 nights in a row this weekend...highs in the 40s...brrr...love the water lilies and the spigot

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  21. Your pond is fabulous, especially with the addition of that spigot fountain. Great pictures, Cat!

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  22. Great idea! I love the combination of the graceful Water Lilies and the earthy tank and spigot. Wonderful!

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  23. Cat, I think you take the nicest water lily pictures around! The new spigot is a nice whimsical addition to your water garden and is all the nicer for the family connection.

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  24. So stunning! Now you have me wanting to copy your spigot for my new stock tank pond. We've been debating whether a fountain of some type would be a good addition, but it has been low priority while we wait for the plants and fish and new tank to finally come to equilibrium. I look forward to a day when mine looks as lovely as yours.

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  25. Cat, I saw the feature of this area on Pam's blog and was wowed! This is a stunning area - you've created magic here! I absolutely LOVE it!! The addition of the spigot adds something so special and unique to this - an inspired addition!! Your water lilies are spactacular!

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