Example of the realization of a pond

Serge explains us the realization of his garden pond

Construction of the pond

The pond is 50 cm underground and 40 cm above ground. All around, the earth slopes gently down to the level of the garden soil.

Advantages: less digging; use of the digging soil to make the slope; creation of a small height that breaks the monotony of the flatness of the garden.

The characteristics of the pond are:

• Volume 10.000 liters
• Depth 90 cm (If I had to do it again, I would make it 1,20 m deep)

Near the waterfall the depth is less: first a step of 40 cm on which I put water lilies, then one of 20 cm deep, where the water falls on large pebbles.

The bottom is a 8 to 10 cm thick slab poured in one go. The sides are made of 15 cm cinder blocks. On the upper blocks are embedded concrete irons that form a belt that allows to resist to frost (obviously not Siberian frosts!). The top of the sides is finished with paving stone . The concrete is mixed with a water-repellent powder that makes it waterproof.

On 2 sides, between 2 cinder blocks, at 40 cm from the bottom, I left a hole of about 10 cm diameter made with a plastic bottle around which I poured concrete. These 2 holes go through the cinder blocks and allowed me to install a lighting of the bottom of the water with 12 volts 50 watts spotlights. 50 watts are a minimum because the water is not always very clear, unfortunately. A window is located on the pond side, in the water, and the spotlights are therefore behind, out of the water. At night, seeing the fishes and plants underwater is really the most beautiful effect.

On 3 sides I installed some planters to plant plants. I made them with the help of forms as well as the feet on which they are posed. My mistake: I installed all 3 at the level of the water. According to the type of plants, they must be at 0, -5, or -10 cm.

Of course I also have pots at the bottom of the pond for water lilies, oxygenating plants or others.

The water level of the pond is constant. Indeed, I installed a flush float that brings water when the level drops. Of course it is black and hidden by the vegetation; nobody notices it.

The filtration

The material comes from swimming pool stores. The water intake is at the bottom of the water opposite the waterfall. It is a plastic suction plug with a grid, embedded in the concrete of the bottom of the pond.

All the piping is flexible, in 50 mm. The pipe of the bung goes out on the side of the pond and under ground to join the pump. This pump is a dishwasher pump (flow rate about 3m3/hour) that I got from the dump. It is also possible to buy one from an appliance repair shop. They get them from the machines they throw away. I personally always have 2 in advance, just in case ...

A washing machine drain pump does not have enough flow (about 1 m3/hour). This pump has to work under load, so it is below the pond level. This pump flows into the sand filter (for swimming pools) which is buried, for discretion. It contains 75 kg of sand, which is a minimum for this volume of water.

The cleaning is very easy since it is provided with a handle which allows to turn a valve with 6 positions: filtration, cleaning of the filter, setting to the drain (or to the garden, in my case) etc. ....

The filter outlet goes to the waterfall above. It has 2 concrete basins whose edges are hidden by

The edges are hidden by millstones, one under the other, which allows the water to oxygenate well at each fall.

The fish

I have of course fishes, koi carps, river carps, roaches but I have something else that aquarists will find surprising : I put guppy, every year at the beginning of June, when the water reaches 19 or 20°C. I remove them in September when the water is only 15 or 16°C. At this temperature they do not die but they become numb. Of course, it is not necessary to go lower. I put 4 females and 2 males, adults, which are not long to reproduce. And as there is a lot of vegetation, the young are not eaten . In a few days I will remove them. There are about 150 of them . The water is currently at 18°C and yet the young are just born. They are very easy to recover with a fine mesh net because guppies always swim on the surface.

I tried with scalars but it did not work; they do not hold in cold water. With platy, it works but you can't recover them because they swim too much at the bottom.

Basin, a lively show

Water has a magical side in a garden. Ponds, water features, waterfalls and fountains bring life, relaxation and freshness to the garden. A miniature universe that must find its balance to thrive, the water garden requires a certain amount of attention, but requires much less maintenance than one might think.

Well built, carefully decorated, equipped with useful and practical accessories, your water garden will become a point of attraction, evoking softness and serenity, in a peaceful atmosphere with spectacular vegetation that also attracts wildlife.

The pond is a place rich in life that will delight the youngest and the oldest with its permanent living show. Add some lighting and the magic will work even at night.

An animated show

• Water has a magical side that transforms the decor into a world of peace and delight.
• The water enchants us with the serene calm of the still mirror, where the clouds are reflected to evoke infinite depths.
• The cheerful rustle of the water attracts our curiosity and creates a dynamic movement in the composition of the garden.
• At the edge of a pond or a water feature, we live differently and the perception of the garden changes. The cat, our friend, becomes a potential predator of fish, the insects become the actors of an aerial ballet which enchants us.

An aquatic decor for all gardens

• There is nothing to stop you from creating ponds raised by coping stones, especially on a terrace.
• On the balcony, a large Chinese jar or a half barrel can be transformed into a very pretty water garden.
• The return to the fashion of structured gardens is imposing more and more simple geometric shapes (squares, rounds, rectangles). They offer the advantage of an easier installation and simplified maintenance.
• The water garden evolves with the seasons, changing its appearance while maintaining its decorative appeal. Sparkling like a diamond when frozen in the winter, the water garden teems with life in the spring and summer before gently fading into the golden glow of autumn.

A water garden is easy

• The smallest watertight container can be transformed into a small water garden: jar, bowl, trough, half barrel, etc.
• Materials and techniques have evolved and simplified to facilitate installation and maintenance.
• Everything you need to create and maintain a water garden is available in garden stores, which guarantees accessibility and proximity.
• Water in the garden is accessible to all budgets because the systems work in closed circuit and consume very little electricity. A pond pump consumes less electricity than a light bulb!

So...

A Red Label for geraniums

You thought that only hams and chickens could carry the famous 'Label Rouge', well no! The plant world is also involved with a selection of geraniums specially selected to make you want to plant them at home.

Characteristics of the labelled geranium

The Red Label allows the buyer to identify varieties of geraniums with very fast and harmonious growth.

These varieties will bloom abundantly for many months without interruption and come in all the classic colors ranging from white to red, pink and mauve. With single or very double flowers, single-colored or variegated, you are spoiled for choice. You will find both zonal geraniums with an upright habit that make a beautiful effect in beds or pots, and ivy geraniums ideal for decorating your jars, window boxes and transforming your balcony into a flowering cascade.

Easy to live with, these geraniums do not require constant maintenance.

They tolerate heat and even drought and are less susceptible to disease.

They are guaranteed.

How are Label Rouge geraniums produced and selected?

The 'Label Rouge' geraniums are selected by an independent jury from producers following a very particular schedule of conditions. The plants are subjected to a minimal duration of culture to take time to fortify and develop under good conditions. For example, instead of growing 100 plants per square meter, producers are required to grow half as many to ensure optimal development. The INAO (Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualité), which depends on the Ministry of Agriculture, oversees the whole process and awards the famous 'Label Rouge' if all conditions are met.

Some varieties

Among the 'Label Rouge' geraniums, some like 'Tango Velvet Red' offer intense colors. This very floriferous variety is adorned with semi-double velvety deep red flowers. Also in reds, 'Sunrise' has zoned foliage and bright scarlet double flowers.

If you prefer white geraniums, 'Snow Cascade' has a drooping habit and blooms white from April to October, while the trendy 'Americana White Splash' with its semi-double white flowers with a magenta center will look great in your beds.

Dark purple, 'Royal Blue' with very double flowers is suitable for hanging baskets and pots, which it will adorn with its spectacular bloom from March until October!

Among the pink geraniums, 'Marcada Pink' is a must with its pink bloom forming cascades during long months,

The Label Rouge effect on the consumer

All the European studies prove it: the consumer has currently an anxiogenic behavior and a real loss of confidence towards many elements such as politics, the media but also their consumer products. Labels and big brands bring them this security and reassure them because they are (most of the time) guarantees of quality; 2/3 of consumers say they are ready to pay more for a trustworthy purchase.

A Florentine-inspired balcony

Tuscany, a land of contrasts and light, has seen the birth of many artists inspired by its special atmosphere. Do as they did, and let yourself be tempted by a colorful balcony!

The basic elements

Florentine balconies offer an explosion of shimmering colors, combining vertical plants that provide structure and a profusion of planters that are always opulent. Conifers, succulents and beautiful annuals will find their place in a clever arrangement for a very natural result.

Let's start with the basic structure: the indispensable Florence cypress will be installed in a corner of the balcony to give verticality to the whole. On the wall, a colorful climber will serve as a backdrop for the decor. Among the most popular plants, the bignone, which is covered with orange bells for many months, the jasmine with its bewitching perfume, the wisteria with its pastel colors or the bougainvillea, which should be reserved for well-sheltered areas. For a very Italian effect, don't neglect the quality of the containers; richly decorated pots will be perfect for hosting your plants and giving your balcony that typical touch.

Make way for opulence

Once structured, it's time to give your balcony a welcome touch of theatricality!

On the ground, a few balls of lavender will distill their powerful fragrance, alternating with beautiful pots of white and blue agapanthus to create a contrast of colors and textures. You can add a few large 'Schwarzkopf' aeoniums whose almost black foliage will bring an original shine to the whole.

On a small wrought iron table, a few pots of succulents will find a place in a large wicker basket or an old pewter basin recycled for the occasion: silver-leafed graptopetalums, houseleeks, echeverias, small aloes, crassulas and sedums will form a charming scene, alternating their astonishing blooms over a very long period.

Hanging planters on the balcony, always overloaded to achieve the desired effect, will need to be fixed properly to avoid causing danger. Choose them deep and large enough to be filled with a rich mixture of good potting soil and compost, a very fertile substrate that will allow you to obtain the exuberant result you are looking for.

You can then let yourself go to all the fantasies as long as the color is there! Don't forget a few ivy plants that will hang casually and serve as a base for the annual plants that will follow one another according to the seasons. The essential red ivy geraniums will accompany them brilliantly. Don't skimp on fertilizer to obtain a profusion of flowers and remember to cut back the wilted stems to induce the formation of new buds. Surfinas, bacopas, lobelias and silver baskets will add color to this scene, which is meant to be as exuberant as the character of our Italian friends that their balconies reflect so well.

Petunia or surfinia?

Petunias and surfinias are often confused in garden center labels. Are they really two different plants? What is the difference between them? Let's try to find out!

Petunia in all its states

The Petunia genus includes nearly 40 species of perennial or annual plants native to the prairies or rocky slopes of South America. A very popular plant with gardeners, the petunia comes in a multitude of cultivars with very specific characteristics. The 'Grandiflora', which as their name indicates, have flowers of more than 10 cm in diameter, the 'Milliflora' which have small single flowers, the 'Multiflora', bushy varieties covered with medium-sized flowers and the 'Surfinia' which have for main characteristic to be drooping.

The Surfinia is therefore a petunia, more exactly a variety of petunia.

Birth of the Surfinia

A scientist of the firm Suntory based in Japan went on a study trip to Brazil in 1989 for the realization of a viticultural project in this country. He was amazed by a Petunia inflata, a robust species growing naturally in the fields. He brought it back to Japan where Dr. Sagaki crossed it with other species to finally obtain a vigorous and drooping petunia that the marketing kings named 'Surfinia'.

How to recognize a surfinia from a classic petunia?

As we have seen, the Surfinia is a drooping petunia ideal for making beautiful hanging baskets. Very vigorous, it grows several centimeters per day during the growing season and can easily reach more than forty centimeters in length. The stems of the surfinias are thinner and more branched than those of the classic petunias. The color of the flowers, once limited to fuchsia pink or white, extends to purple, pale pink, red, lavender, dark blue and even yellow. There are also bicolored flowers.  The size of the flowers is comparable to that of the classic petunias. Other advantages are that surfinias are much more resistant to rain and that it is not necessary to cut off faded flowers because new ones grow back very quickly.

Maintenance of surfinia

Just like the classic petunia, the surfinia needs warmth and sun. Usually grown in hanging baskets or large jars, the surfinia needs very regular watering during the summer. Don't forget to add a 'Special flowering plants' fertilizer every 15 days to support the flowering. Around mid-August, if you notice that your plant is blooming less and that its stems are getting longer and thinner, prune your surfinia at 20 cm from its base. It will regain a new vigor.

Scented Pelargoniums

Very precious for their ease of cultivation and their long-lasting blooms, pelargoniums are also available in scented versions. A simple touch of the foliage becomes an enchantment...

Perennials with multiple assets

Scented Pelargoniums are easy to grow perennials that can be planted in the ground in all regions where the winter is mild. In beds, borders or pots, place your scented Pelargoniums not far from a busy place, they will exhale their delicate or frankly marked scents of hazelnut, mint, rose and even eucalyptus at the slightest contact with their foliage, which can also be ornamental. Very cut, variegated, hairy or even velvety, let your collector's soul sail among the many varieties! A sunny location is required for a long and opulent bloom.

Fruity notes

Pelargonium 'Lemon Fancy': clean green foliage, very cut and almost crisp, exhaling lemongrass fragrances. Beautiful pale pink flowers marked with fuchsia pink during long months. 50 cm height for as much spread.

Pelargonium 'Mabel Grey': very veined dark green foliage emitting a strong smell of lemon when crumpled. Single, light pink flowers with purple markings from May to October.

Pelargonium 'Scarlet Unique' : nicely serrated, green foliage with a delicate smell of freshly cut carrot. Very long-lasting bright red bloom (May to October). Variety with a spreading habit, 50 cm in all directions.

Pelargonium ionidiflorum: well-cut glabrous green foliage, with a delicate celery scent. Beautiful flowering beyond the foliage, bright pink flower well opened. A low growing species, ideal in a pot on a balcony.

Pelargonium odoratissimum : large rounded leaves, serrated at their edges, with a nice apple scent. The very fine white flowers literally cover the plant from May to the end of September. Forms beautiful clumps. Ideal in sunny beds.

Intense notes

Pelargonium tomentosum : magnificent green foliage, velvety and very soft to the touch, giving off a powerful mint scent. Small white flowers in bunches, few in number but present over a long period (May to October). Perennial species, robust, with the spread out port (90 cm of spread). Attention, it is not very rustic; in the cold areas a culture in pot is preferable.

Pelargonium 'Fragrans' : harmonious foliage with a strong pine scent, small cultivar ideal in pot (25 cm high). White flowers in bouquets from May to September. The variety 'Fragrans Variegatum' presents a beautiful variegated foliage of creamy white.

Pelargonium graveolens : medium green foliage, very cut and giving off a powerful smell of rose. Lilac colored flowers in bouquet from May to October. Not very hardy.