Backyard Pond
There was a time when water features were only for parks and the rich, but not anymore. With the wide range of water features available today, any gardener can add the tranquility and interest of water to the landscape. If you have worried that a pond would be too expensive and difficult to install and maintain, you have many other options. Consider a small above-ground fountain, a basin of still water with plants and fish, or even a table-top fountain if a pond is not feasible. There are so many great reasons to add a water feature to your garden; here are six.
Provide Tranquility
There is something relaxing and peaceful about water, whether it is a fast-moving stream, still pond, or bubbling fountain. Place garden furniture around the water feature because chances are good that your friends and family will want to enjoy this little piece of heaven, too. It may very well become the focal point of your garden.
Grow Aquatic Plants
Have you ever admired water lilies? Well, with the right water feature, you can grow them. There are all kinds of interesting aquatic and semi-aquatic plants that you can grow with just a container of water. One of my favorite aquatic gardens is a bog garden housed in an antique claw-foot bathtub. It contains many varieties of the carnivorous pitcher plant. 
Provide a Natural Fish Habitat
Water features are the perfect natural fish habitat. There is nothing more delightful than a traditional koi pond, but even a large watertight basin or container will be enough to house small fish like the mosquito fish or guppies. These fish do need oxygen, so the addition of oxygen-producing plants or an electric or solar fountain is necessary. If you keep fish inside, consider letting them summer outside; they love the mosquito larvae and insects, and you will save on fish food. Most likely, they will have lots of babies, too! Just remember to keep them in partial shade and make sure that they do not get too hot. Also, beware of wildlife like raccoons and birds: They can make a snack of your fish.
Attract Wildlife
Water attracts more wildlife than you think. Butterflies, dragonflies, birds, frogs, turtles, newts, and salamanders are a few possibilities. You will be providing a much-needed habitat for many creatures, and they will provide you with hours of entertainment in exchange. Unfortunately, cats, squirrels, dogs, foxes, and even deer may find your water feature interesting, too. I have seen cases where raccoons and predatory birds have eaten all of the fish in a pond. There are various techniques to keep predators away if you find it is necessary.
Add Interest and Beauty to the Garden
Adding a water feature instantly adds interest, beauty, and a different texture to your garden. Adding a pond can even make your garden look larger because of the added depth and the water's reflective properties. Water features are an extension of your garden — for example, for a formal English-style garden, you might choose a square pond with a lion's head wall fountain; for an Asian-inspired garden, try a stone fountain and some bamboo plants.
Create a Micro-Climate
Water absorbs heat during the day and radiates the heat back out at night. What does this mean if you have a pond? Well, it will cool and refresh you and your guests on a hot day, for one. Secondly, since it warms the air at night, it may create a little niche where you can grow plants that you normally couldn't in the area- for example, perennials that are hardy in the zone just below yours. 
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