Recently, I saw a cartoon that really made me laugh. It showed a homeowner standing in her small back yard with her landscaper, holding a picture of Versailles in her hand. The caption read "I'd like to try something like this."

Certainly Louis XIV valued the beauty that water adds to the garden, as the fountains of Versailles attest. However, my guess is that you don't have quite that kind of real estate. No matter how small your garden is - even if it is just a lanai or a small deck - you can experience the beauty and pleasure of water in the garden with less trouble than you might think. When space is at a premium, I often recommend adding a "water pot" to the garden. By choosing the appropriate container and planning accordingly you'll be surprised at how easy it is. What follows are some suggestions for containerized water features for the small garden.

The sound of splashing water is often something we look for in a water feature, and this is easily accomplished as long as there is a source of electricity for your container. Choose a container that complements the scale of the space it will stand in, and also an appropriately sized pump. Drill a hole with a masonry bit a few inches from the bottom of the container. Thread the pump's cord through a rubber plug, seal around holes with a silicone sealer, attach your piping and bubbler to the pump and splash away. If your container is unglazed on the inside (like terra cotta) you will also need to seal it with a premixed sealer like Drylock. Alternatively, balance a spout on the edge of the container (as with bamboo spouts) and no drilling is required. The water re-circulates but you may need to add more occasionally due to evaporation. Supplies are available at home improvement centers and many reputable nurseries.

In the absence of electricity, consider installing a container filled with aquatic or bog plants. The appropriate mix of plants will keep the water naturally clear, without added chemicals. Oxygenating grasses compete with algae for food. True aquatic plants do not mind having their crowns submerged in a few inches of water and some can live in water that is even deeper. There are also the carnivorous bog plants, like Sarracenia purpurea, which do not like to be submerged but don't mind very wet feet. A hole drilled higher up on the side of the container will keep the water from rising over the crowns. A great source of information for these types of water gardens is Oasis Water Gardens (206-767-9776) in the Georgetown area of Seattle.

Even a simple bird bath will create a source of water, decoration and an attraction for birds. A birdbath does require some regular cleaning, and birds don't particularly like warm water, so the bath should get some afternoon shade.

You may not get Versailles, but you can aim for the Petit Trianon!

by Toni Cross, CPH