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Mia Jenkins
Mia Jenkins is the Director of Marketing and Communications for Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, located in the Museums on the River District at 701 Amidon. Botanica was opened to the public in 1987 to generate enthusiasm for horticulture and enlighten people through educational, artistic, and cultural experiences. With this mission, Botanica’s gardens and programs expand public awareness of horticulture, educate Kansans about how nature can improve their daily lives, and assist in the promotion of community development.Feel free to contact Botanica for information on volunteering, special events or for what’s in bloom at 316-264-0448.
Flowers & Plants
2007-07-01 16:13:00
How to plan a backyard pond
What should one be aware of when planning a backyard pond?
Answer: Ponds are one of the most exciting new trends in home landscaping. They can range from simple concepts in containers to elaborate fountains, waterfalls and ponds. Gardening with aquatics is similar to other forms of gardening in that you have to be aware of proper soil conditions, kinds of containers, proper planting techniques and plant maintenance. What makes water gardening unique is that the plants are growing in a water filled environment. Here are the basics of selecting aquatic plants for your water garden. Location, Location, Location- Perhaps the most important consideration in water gardening is choosing the right spot. Most aquatic plants and fish need plenty of sun, so a site that gets direct sun for most of the day is best. To get the best light and avoid the accumulation of leaf debris, choose a site away from tall shrubs and trees. Plant Selection- Your plant selection depends on the size of the garden and the kind of look you want. Some plants can add drama and fragrance while others provide oxygen to help keep the garden healthy. Other considerations, such as water depth and amount of sunlight need to also be taken into account when choosing plant material. When choosing aquatic plants, keep in mind that the plants should cover at least 50 - 60 percent of the water surface. In general, aquatic plants are very aggressive, so be careful not to overbuy. Aquatic plants can be divided into three major categories: emergent, submerged and floaters. Both floating leafed and submerged plants are needed for a healthy pond and need to be included in your selection. Fish can also be a beneficial addition, because they clean up debris and help control mosquito larva and other insects. Main features- Hardy and Tropical Water Lilies are often the main feature of a water garden. Hardy Water Lilies come in colors of white, yellow, pink and red. These are available in a variety of sizes from miniature to large, so there are plants available for any size of water garden. Tropical Water Lilies are the only way to get water lilies with purple and blue flower colors, but are also available in shades of white, yellow, pink and red. They hold their flowers above the water surface on longer stems instead of on top of the surface. Day and night blooming varieties are available. Floating plants like water hyacinths and water lettuce help to cover the water surface and have long root systems that help to filter impurities out of the water. Marginal plants serve as background plants to the main features in a water garden. These plants can add color and texture to your garden: lotus, sagittarius, dwarf bamboo, iris, cattails, and sweet flag. Submerged plants- these plants remain beneath the water surface. Often called oxygenators, submerged plants help combat algae and improve water quality. Plants include: anacharis, bacopa, cabomba and milfoil. Although this is a bit commercial, since we are a non-profit organiztaion, the good people at The Q & A Times let us get by with it. If you want to see different varieties of aquatic plants that thrive in south central Kansas, visit Botanica. Throughout the summer, many varieties of tropical and hardy water lilies, lotus and other aquatic plants will be blooming for your viewing pleasure from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. From our garden to yours- best of luck in all of your gardening endeavors!
 
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