Tropical Tabletop Water Garden

One of the things I try to convey about outdoor living spaces is that you don't need a lot of room to create a beautiful place to relax. Even a small patio is ample in size to create an inviting retreat. This container garden is a perfect example of how you can enjoy a water fountain in the smallest of spaces. A container, small pump, source of electricity and plants are all you need. Oh, and water, of course!

Start by selecting a container. For my garden I chose a black oval pot because its smooth, modern shape is a nice complement to the plants. Ideally, a container without a drain hole is best, but if you fall in love with a pot that already has a hole and really want to turn it into a fountain you can easily plug it. Just place a piece of duct tape inside the pot over the hole. On the underside of the pot fill the hole with plumber's epoxy. Then level it out with your fingers so that it is even with the sides of the hole. When it dries, remove the duct tape on the inside of the pot.

Next add a store bought pump and secure it with a few rocks or bricks, something to anchor it and to give the plants a ledge to stand on. Drape the electric cord over the edge and out the back of the container. You'll want to position the container near the outlet and in a place where the cord is out of the way so no one will trip over it.

Now you are ready to add the plants. This couldn't be easier, because you can just place them in the container, pot and all. Depending on the height of the container, you may want to put shorter pots on pieces of brick to display them at varying heights.

I started with creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia). It will grow in both standing water or in the ground. It's an excellent ground cover, so along with fountain gardens; I also like using it between stepping-stones. When planted in the ground it likes well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Next I dropped in a pot of burgundy cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) 'Queen Victoria' and a variegated sweet flag (Acorus gramineus). Both of these plants perform well in soil or water, but if you plant them in soil be sure to keep them moist. They don't like to dry out. The final plant I added was a calla lily. Calla lilies are popular for their flute shaped blooms, but I love the foliage too. And like the other plants in this water garden, calla lily bulbs can be planted in the ground as well. Bloom production tends to wane over the years, but they will continue to produce the interesting foliage. With all the plants in the pot, a few adjustments of the planted pots may be necessary to conceal the electric cord.

So, without further ado, let's move to the last step before turning on the pump, which is, of course, the water. Just fill it up, turn on the pump and enjoy!