The New Wriggling Stream
Usually I write about garden design projects long after they have been successfully completed - thus my gardening self-esteem can shine forth, and all miscalculations can be quietly forgotten. My attempt at constructing a grand water feature in the Wattle Woods is an exception...
I refer to my Wattle Woods stream - a small wriggling Moosey-made waterway. Every painful detail of this garden project has been faithfully recorded. I've quickly learnt that water features have minds of their own!
Will the Water Keep Flowing?
Will it flow? Will it flood? Is it still flowing? Aargh! It's stopped flowing...
I didn't want to experiment with the flow rate, the diameter of the pipe, the incline of the ground, and so on. These were engineering matters - all I wanted to do was to watch the water trickling by. I thought I'd plant marginals along the sides - maybe Ligularias en masse, exotic reeds, watery irises, rushes... But in typical pioneering spirit this hasn't quite happened yet - I've been too busy checking that the stream actually keeps flowing!
First There Was One Pond...
A Stream Bed of Stones
At first I built one small end pond and moved in some Iris confusa plants, transplanted some flaxes, casually threw stones of different sizes into the stream bed (hoping for that natural look). Then I triumphantly dug a second pond - this was my solution to the dreaded FLOODING. Six hours later I remember going to proudly check my earthworks - Aargh! The water has stopped flowing! Both ponds were completely empty!
Then There Were Two...
I've got used to that now! I just use the garden hose to re-start the water flow, without even blinking. I've even installed a seat and planted some Pittosporums on the fence-line. I've sat, content, and watched the water.
My new water feature is a success! There's no major flooding. At the moment it zigzags through spring flowering honesty - not one's typical waterside planting (sometimes one has to take what one's already got!)... None of the big surrounding gum trees has died. All is well - for now! Watch this space...
Footnote
Months after writing these optimistic words, the Wattle Woods Stream is still wriggling, with yet more plants along its edge, - but the water flow continues on again, off again, on again, off again...