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How often have you wished you could get those wetland
species to grow in your garden? Some species of
violet, such as Viola sororia and Viola
cuculatta will never produce like they do in the
wild without wet growing conditions. Perhaps you
are lucky enough to have the right spot in your garden
for these water loving plants, but if you are not,
perhaps an Enviro-fountain may be your answer.
My Enviro-fountain is the fulfillment of one of my Gardening
Dreams. I have been nurturing an idea in the
back of my mind for nearly thirty years. The
idea was planted when I first visited Pittsburgh's Phipps Conservatory for a Cub Scout field trip.
Phipps has beautiful glass enclosed gardens. I
particularly loved the Oriental Garden, with its
rendition of a stream. I thought,
"Gee, I wish I could have that in my
yard". As I progressed through school, the
idea began to sprout and find nourishment in knowledge
gained in Science classes and later, studying for a
degree in Biology at the University of
Pittsburgh. Some of the ideas were tested in a
"prototype" when I kept a "Don't touch
it" aquarium in my room, where the fish were fed
by the plants and the plants by the fish and the waste
were removed by aeration and bacterial action and the
thing was powered by a bank of fluorescent lights and
an air pump. I put the fish and everything else
in, turned on the pump and lights and watched it grow
for three years. During that whole time I did
nothing but makeup water additions and occasional
partial water changes. I knew that my plan would
work. I just needed to finish it and implement
it sometime.
Those who know me will be quick to tell you that I
seldom act on infant ideas, but rather build them to a
grandiose level of completeness before attempting to
implement them. That is not to say that I
actually plan them out. That I do not do.
Rather, I toy with ideas in my mind, while driving the
car or watching the sky or waiting for the car pool,
or (Don't hit me) while "listening" to
you tell me something. Consequently, when I
finally get around to starting a project, there's
nothing on paper; just a picture and procedure in my
head ready to implement. It drives those around
me crazy. But it has served me well. Sure,
I have to make extra trips to the store for supplies,
but that only gives me the opportunity to find things
to add to the final solution. Fun for me.
Aggravation for everyone else.
This summer, my wife Cindy, suggested that I go ahead and build
a "Fish Pond" in our back yard. Was she in for a
surprise! Thirty years of planning erupted into
my most ambitious gardening project ever. One
that was sure to tax her patience and understanding,
but one that in the end would become a new common
accomplishment and a beautiful one at that. Even
if I do say so myself.
Cindy envisioned a small Gold Fish Pond. Gary
envisioned an Enviro-Fountain. a structure with
flowing water, where different sections of the
creation, would form different microclimates, each
providing an appropriate environment for a unique
collection of plant specimens. In particular, a
place where wetland plants from various semi-aquatic
and wet habitats would be happy to grow in our own
yard. A home for happy violets and other
attractive species.
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The Surroundings
From The South
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