A pond or water feature is always an important element in a garden that becomes a focal point.

Let me explain to you about garden concept that will guide you on how to decide the best water themed garden you will be proud of.

3 Main Garden Settings
Town Gardens— very large compound
City Gardens — a size of large rooms
Tiny Spaces — balcony, passageway, patio

Town Garden

Design Focus:-
* A large pond will make the garden feel bigger and brighter by reflecting the sky
* Mixed planting of shrubs, grasses and perennials will disguise boundaries and create a sense of mystery
* Garden design reflects the style, proportions, and materials of the house
* Pleasant garden setting which is in harmony with its locality

The oriental look

The japanese garden has a sense of miniature in its layout; rocks placed in water to represent an island with peeble beach as its shoreline. Timber and bamboo are common element s in the garden that add feeling of closeness to nature..

Key features:-
* Natural material (stone, timber, bamboo)
* Rock and peeble beach
* Ever green and ground cover plants
* Stone lantern, water basins, deer scarer
* color an movement from fish
* A tsukubai - water fountain flows from bamboo to stone basin

The traditional look

Symmetry and order is the key to the traditional look. The garden shapes are balanced and controlled with asymmetrical design of terrace, pond and lawns placed within paths, edging strips or planting bed. Brick and stones are the traditional materials for surfaces and structures. Moving water were channelled through a formal narrow slate-edged channel called Rill into the sunken pond and pumped back to a wall-mounted fountain which provides as a focal point of the garden.

Key features :-
* Symmetrical layout and geometric shapes.
* Traditional materials (brick, stone or modern re-production)
* Axial lines, framed views and focal points
* Formal reflecting ponds for fish and aquatic plants
* Raised ponds, rills and wall-mounted fountains
* Mixed planting of shrubs, perennials and potted plants

The family garden

The garden is a play ground for your children spending hours outsides, playing hide and seek, climbing trees, messing about with sand and water, swinging under a tree, role playing in a tree house. Your garden should be based on these activities. Choose a simple layout that allows children move around freely but safely must be a main concern.

Key Feature:
* Soft material for safe landings (grass, sand)
* Safe, secures boundaries and structures
* A practical, simple layout and well-laid surfaces
* A safe reservoir water feature for younger children
* A shallow wildlife pond or a shallow stream with fountain
* Storage space for bicycles and toys
* Barbeque built-in structure and picnic table for gathering

The habitat garden

Re-creation of wildlife habitats found in nature on a smaller scale is the essential ingredient to a successful wildlife garden. Birds, butterflies, dragonfly, frog, snails and mammals can find refuge in the small habitat. Wild life pond, fruiting shrubs, nectar plants, birdhouse, bat boxes, stones and log piles are all beneficial additions.

Key features:-
* Natural materials (stone,timber,gravel)
* A shallow edged pond with peeble beach and marsh
* Native (or near native) trees, shrubs, and wildflowers
* Nectar rich and berry-bearing plants
* Blurred divisions between habitats
* A nettle patch in an out-of-the-way corner for butterfly larvae

City Gardens

Escape from the hustle and bustle of the modern urban living to nature is very important as to release all the intense pressure. You need a home where you can find retreat and escapism in a garden as a size of a large room.

Design focus:-
* The sound of moving water soothes the senses and counteracts the traffic noice.
* Open water reflects the sky and brings light down into the space.
* Good quality outdoor furniture that can be left outside all year saves on precious storage space.
* Lighting will enhance the garden at night from inside as well as outside.

The tropical Bali look

Figurines made by Balinese with Hinduism influence are widely decorated as ornamentals in the tropical Bali look garden. Traditional Balinese design on walls and main gate entrance expressed many elements from the old hindus temple.

Key features:-
* Main gate entrance made of stone and wood.
* Gazebo with roof made of hard wood called Chengal.
* Natural clay or terracotta water features used as fountain.
* Mixed plantings gives color and texture to the garden

The mediterranean look

You need a lot of sun light and bright area in order to create this style of garden. Warm, natural materials, combined with soft, textural and aromatic planting.

Key features:-
* Terracotta pots planted with tender agaves and olives as well citrus plants.
* Formal raised pond with cooling wall mounted fountains.
* Natural materials (stone,peebles, terracotta, timber) or concrete rendered and painted with soft, chalky colors.
* Scented flowers (Jasmine) and foliage.
* Vertical and clipped evergreen plants such as cypress and box

Tiny Spaces

With a little thoughtful and ingenuity, you can create a water garden in your basement, passageway, patio or balcony. In tiny spaces, vertical spaces are valuable and can be enhanced with paint, trellis or climbing plants. Reflecting lights on mirror like water can deceive the eyes and make the space look bigger.

Design Focus:
* Moving water and fountains will enliven and refresh a small space.
* Open water will reflect the sky and bring light down into space.
* In a tiny space, a single concept, well executed is the key; every plant, material and finishing touch must be carefully chosen to enhance the look.

Container water gardens

It is still possible to enjoy the qualities of water and grow water plants even you cannot do much of excavation on the ground or you don't have a ground at all. Used container such as half barrel, tubs, sink, as well as ready-made container such as terracotta bowl, urns, plant pots can all be adapted to hold water and create mini ponds.

Container choice:-
* Reclaimed containers such as half barrels and stone troughs planted with native plants suit natural informal garden
* Stone and terracotta planters complement formal traditional or Mediterranean style gardens
* In oriental-style gardens, stone bowls planted with Japanese water plants are an ideal choice.
* Glaze earthernware pots planted with tender plant suit tropical style garden.
* Ceramic planters or fibreglass containers made to look like steel, cooper or zinc complement more contemporary gardens.

Resources:

1) Laman Impiana Oct/Nov/Dec 2005 issue

2) Debbie Roberts and Ian Smith, Creating garden ponds and water features, Collins, 2001