Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-26
Water Gardening to Beautify Your Grounds

IT, It should be protected from the sun and
kept moist during this process as the more
slowly 1t hardens. the stronger it win be.
After the concrete is seasoned, the pool should
be thoroughly scrubbed and washed several
times to remove alkin, which Is injurious to
both plants and fish. The water can be drain
ed by siphoning with the garden hose. Inlet
and outlet may easily be provided for when
building the pool, but this Is not necessary
nor desirable for drawing water lilies. as rum
ming water tends to keep the temperature
too low.
Many Of the low growing aquatics like to
have their feet or roots IN the mud In shallow
water. IF one plans TO grow some Of these.
and they add much grace to . water garden,
build q little ledge or shelf around the edge Of
the pool, In which TO plant them. These lodges
placed q few inches below the surface Of the
water, need only be or inches deep, 90 as
to hold enough soil for the roots. In the small
pool 1t Is desirable to plant the low-growing
types Of shallow water plants In these lodges.
Among the OVERLOOKING are the dainty blue
fcrget-me-notS (MyosotiS palustris) and the
lovely glistening yellow water peoples Uirn-
nocharts Humboldtic) which resemble the well
known California peoples (Eschscholtzia).
THERE are two distinct classes of water
lllies-the tender or tropical and the hardy
The tender lilies are divided into the day and
night blooming varieties and must be treated as
care of them indoors during the Winter. The
hardy lilies are day boomers and should only
be taken up when the soil needs to be enriched
and the roots divided. For the amateur these
are the most satisfactory.
When you are ready to make your selections,
1t is advisable to consult your local grower OF
aquatics, as much depends upon the size and
type Of your pool, and the amount Of money
you wish to spend. Do not make the mistake Of
overplanting the pool, for the open spaces per-
NIT the mirror-like reflections which are among
its chief charms. It Is desirable to plant with
the lilies, one or two floating water hyacinths
(Eichornia crassipeS major), for IL Is upon the
roots OF these plants that the goldfish spawn
In the very small pool It Is best TO place the
soil in the bottom and plant the lilies In IT,
while in the larger ones. each lily should be
planted In q box about ~ feet square and 1
foot deep-the boxes filled with rich SOIL mixed
preferably with well rotted COW manure, as the
richer the soil the more numerous and finer the
flowers.
lamp the soil down firmly In the box then
dig hole and plant the lily in a horizontal
position, adding enough soil to cover it to the
crown. An inch layer Of sand sprinkled over
this prevents discoloration Of the water and
keeps the fish from disturbing the roots. After
the lilies have been planted, only sufficient
water should be added to cover the crowns by
about tncheS-thlls allowing the warmth Of
the sun to reach the plants. As the lilies grow
to the surface, the water should be added
gradually until the pool is filed to the level at
which you wish to keep it. which should be q
little below the top of the pool. After this only
enough water need be added to take care Of
loss from evaporation.
pool Is the eye Of the garden, In whose
depths its beauties are NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
slightly powdered by the pollen OF lily or q
nearby blooming flower, and always rejecting
the beautiful things around it. Water holds a
charm for every one and especially when 1t is
funed water lily. There are many forms Of
gardening. but that Of water gardening is far
The most alluring. Many an unSightly or barren
yard has been transformed. seemingly overnight,
into a. lcvable spot Of beauty by the willing
hands of the garden artist.