Water in the Garden: Energy and Ambiance
It isn’t necessary to recreate the fountains at the gardens of Versailles to reap the benefits of a water feature. Water pulls on our primordial yearnings, enticing us into exploration and immersion. It forms a molecular bond with our fundamental biology.
A water feature can change the atmosphere of a space, adding positive energy and ambiance. As in every design, there are key aspects to consider when designing a water feature:
Location
Size
Sound
Materials
Lighting
Location
Appropriate options depend on the size and shape of your garden. It’s possible to
Guide people through the garden with a narrow rill or simulate a stream with dry rocks, holding the ephemeral water of the seasons.
Create intrigue and interaction by arranging stepping stones across the water feature.
Bring touch into a space. by placing the feature at hand height, letting people drag their fingers through the water as they walk by, bringing touch into the garden.
Take advantage of topographical changes by having water fall from place to place in dynamic interaction.
Enhance the ecological fabric of your microenvironment by simulating a naturally occurring pond.
The pond at Mountsier Garden, in Nutley, NJ
Sound
The water feature can lay still – allowing us to reflect on the world around us, or it can burble along, bringing merriment along with a soothing sound.
Water can jump and spout, creating a fine mist that spreads across the garden.
Water can make a loud, delightful sound, or it can drop, drop, plinking along as music.
Water can draw people through your garden with a small burbling fountain in a hidden seating area, creating intrigue as people travel the paths of your garden in search of the sound.
Materials
The selection of appropriate materials can make a feature pop and pull. The creation of a naturalist feature calls for naturalistic elements. Or draw from the materials used on your home, blending the feature into the aesthetics of place.
Light
Proper lighting will allow enjoyment into the evening hours. Watch the seasons blow across the surface of the water; large drops of rain or ripples of wind can be enjoyed day or night. Observe the reflection of the moon on a clear cold winter night. Light up the feature to enjoy the movement of water, throughout the seasons.
The bubbling fountain at The Perch Residence in Seattle
The key to every water feature is in the design - a well-thought-out placement in the garden, integration into the multiple uses and needs of the surrounding landscape, and the clever disguise of the mechanics of the feature.
Working with a designer to configure the optimum design of a water feature’s location, size, sound, materials, light, and the finishing touches with planting, and furniture will result in an appealing and tasteful water feature that can be enjoyed for years to come.