W
ater gardens can be found in just about every neighborhood in the Norman area. Small or large, simple or elaborate, water gardeners are enthusiastic proponents of these beautiful and melodious micro-environments. Despite recent severe weather that downed tree limbs and muddied the water, several area water garden enthusiasts welcomed photographer Lindsey Davies and this writer to tour their aquatic oases and offered tips for the future water gardener.
L
arry and Mary Dunham, who live in a gated community off Alameda, had their pond and water garden professionally installed in 2001, shortly after their home was built, in part because the couple didn’t want the bother of mowing a lawn, but also because – like so many people – they cherish the appearance and sound of moving water.
The pond was installed where they can enjoy it from their living and dining rooms all year. Larry Dunham said the water garden, which can be seen from the street, attracts neighbors; some even stop and sit on the bench to enjoy the pond and watch the koi. Though he doesn’t mind the neighbors stopping by to enjoy the view, he’s less fond of another visitor of late: a blue heron that discovered his pond, and its inhabitants, a few years after its installation. A net now spans the pond to protect the koi. Framing the pond is a lush green spruce, a Japanese maple and an assortment of plants, which are switched out from time to time to lend the garden a new look. Dunham said they opted for professional weekly maintenance, allowing them to enjoy the pond with minimal work on their part. Dunham says that people considering adding a water garden, especially a larger one with a pond and a waterfall, should be aware that they require daily and weekly maintenance, plus a more extensive cleaning at least once a year.
Fish bring more life to many of the larger water gardens.
NORMAN magazine | JULY/AUGUST 2013
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