The first feature is a tumbling  waterfall surrounded by rock and perennial plants including a Pineapple Guava Standard.  It arrived too tall so after it settles in I will trim it down to size and retrain it next year into a shorter tree form.  We were able to convert our antique water trough (originally used to water the  livestock by our ancestors who established our  homestead) into a unique tumbling waterfall.  I have learned two new tricks already after brown algae began to grow in  the trough:  add a bag of barley grass and some goldfish!  Both are organic, natural ways of taking care of the algae and adding interest to the trough.  We started with 12 fish and are down to 2…..one of the perils of being a fish in the country with  all  the wild “critters”.  The remaining 2 are wily creatures who thus far have survived.

The second water feature includes Japanese Rain Chains.   They are made of copper and will develop a lovely patina as they age.  The water flowing from cup to cup makes the most delicious ”babbling brook” sound…..so very soothing and relaxing.  Makes me want to lie down with  a good book right there!  The rain chains are in on the backdrop of our wedding gazebo with backlit stained glass on either side and gardens expanding from both the left and right.  We expanded the gardens to include more perennials and some edibles (Pindo Palm, Cardammon, an Olive Tree, Daylillies, Roses to name a few of the edibles).

Gardening has always been one of my passions but learning to hardscape with  water is a whole new arena and one I am enjoying!  Come enjoy the new gardens with the birds, wildlife and other guests!

Speaking of Fall, now is the time to plant herbs and flowers. Culinary herbs such as dill (herb of 2010), fennel, parsley, caraway, coriander/cilantro, celery, chervil, and lovage. There are also many ornamentals such as bishop’s weed, Queen Anne’s lace, and laceflower.  Vegetables such as carrots, beets, turnips, and  parsnips obviously belong here too.   I also sprinkle in seeds of tri color swiss chard for their beautiful and edible foliage,  sugar snap peas and baby lettuces for a quick harvest.There are also medicinal plants such as angelica – of which  the Chinese variety (Angelica polymorpha var. sinensis)  does best here (zone 9) - in part shade. It is biennial and can reach 8 to 10 feet when blooming! Angelica, by the way, is a historically important plant that was used to treat a variety of ailments and gives its characteristic flavor to the liqueur Benedictine. One member of this family which you should truly avoid growing is poison hemlock. It can be mistaken for parsley and is quite lethal – just ask Socrates if you don’t believe me.  As a important and fun experience, most of these plants are great larval host plants for many butterfly species!Get on  your gloves, get out your spade and get digging!  The reward is far greater than the work involved…. 

Not only great decorative tools, pomegranites are also edible and full of vitamins—–seed are used in salads, as garnishes, eaten out of hand fresh and juiced for their antioxidant properties being used in drinks from cocktails to punch!