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Press Releases
Lake Country Harmony - Lake Country Journal
republished from July / August 1999 issue of the
Lake Country Journal
by Daniel Dix
I have always believed that the sights and sounds of moving water appeal to mind and body alike. That belief, combined with a desire to use native plants and natural materials to provide beauty as well as much-needed refuge for our wildlife, brought me to the wonderful discovery of water gardening.
A joint effort between my brother (an experienced landscaper) and myself, turned what once was a patch of struggling grass in my yard into an oasis for wildlife of all sorts.
We used rocks and boulders covered with hundreds of years of moss and lichen growth. An old, fire-blackened white pine stump that I found in the woods hides the power pole for the fountain. Native terrestrial plants, as well as some colorful annuals and perennials provide brilliance along with visual texture and a smorgasbord for all the furred, finned and feathered creatures that made it their home. Before I even finished filling it, I had water spiders dancing across the surface.
I put in some colorful gold fish and Japanese Koi (about two to three inches long), and at first they were lost in the huge expanse of water. Before long, however, they were hunting the insects and growing at an unbelievable rate. By fall, the Koi were over twelve inches long.
The last addition was a bog garden that was adjacent to the pond, set up to mimic the natural 'low side' you might find in a pond in the forest. In it we planted moss and a variety of native hardy plants, including sedge grass.
One night, about a week after we installed the garden, one frog began calling for a mate. The second night about ten were calling, and by the fourth, it was almost deafening. Before the season was over, we counted three different species of frogs and one species of toad. With all the "singing", came the tadpoles by the hundreds. They were often chased by the fish, who also reproduced in the shallow end of the pool.
The different birds and insects that entertained us could not be counted. The most exciting visitor was a hummingbird moth that feasted nocturnally. A female painted turtle even stopped on her journey to lay her eggs. She only dallied for two days before continuing her important mission. I hope to see her again next spring.
Many have been impressed by our creation and have shown a desire to duplicate our concept of "Landscaping in Harmony with the Northland."
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