Life with Water Don’t wait any longer. DIANE SWAN encourages peace and tranquility in your life with a water feature.
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ince day one, water is the essential element to all living substance. No human, plant or animal exists without it. Nourishing us, body and soul, we are drawn to water, whether at the ocean beach, mountain waterfalls, serene lake or a babbling forest brook. Vacations and weekend getaways often include water, like swimming, boating, fishing, and water sports of every kind. Or maybe we find a quiet place to relax at the water’s edge. Many will spend small fortunes to rent a cabin or condo near the water. Instead of a few days near water, why not bring those water sights and sounds to your own backyard to enjoy every day. Imagine for a minute, getting home from a long hard day at work
21st Annual Spring Dig Plant Sale to benefit Cross-Lines Community Outreach, Inc. Thurs, April 28, 8 am–7 pm Fri, April 29, 8 am–7 pm Sat, April 30, 8 am–1 pm Shawnee Presbyterian Church 6837 Nieman, Shawnee, KS RAIN OR SHINE!
Annuals • Perennials • Hanging Baskets Herbs • Hostas • Tomatoes • Patio Planters Sponsored by FRIENDS of Cross-Lines
For further information, call 913-281-3388.
1601 N.E. Tudor Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO
(816) 525-4226
Annuals, Vegetable Plants, Herbs, Lawn Fertilizers and more. Special on 5 Steps Lawn Program Shrubs and Trees arriving daily!
after fighting rush hour traffic. See yourself walking in the door, putting your work stuff down, reaching in the refrigerator for a cold beverage. Keep walking out to the backyard, then sit down and relax in a lounger on your patio. Close your eyes and hear the sounds of waterfalls and the varied tones of a babbling brook flowing into your pond. Hear the birds chirping and splashing in the stream. Ahh! Peace and tranquility at last, as the worries and stress of the day simply melt away. The soothing sound of water has healing effects on your physical and mental health as you sit and relax. A properly installed water feature is the focal point of the overall landscape and can actually improve the property value of your home.
In today’s world environmental sustainability is becoming a bigger factor in our lives. A pond’s ecosystem is self-sustaining with very little maintenance. Other than the initial filling of the water feature, a water feature will require less water replacement due to evaporation than the same area of grass. Water will attract countless birds, butterflies, dragonflies, turtles, frogs, and other small animals, creating your own wildlife habitat. There is a water feature for every yard, no matter how large or small. You may only have enough room for a small container water garden on your patio or an area big
enough for a bubbler rock or vase, or maybe a small 5-foot pondless stream. You still can reap the benefits of water no matter the size. With more space there are more possibilities. Triple, double, or single waterfalls cascading down into a long meandering stream that twists and turns until flowing into the pond. The pond can be a low maintenance pondless feature with no fish and plants that simply ‘disappears’ or you can do a fullfledged pond with fish and aquatic plants creating a living ecosystem. The larger patio or deck by the house on the water’s edge will afford countless hours of relaxation and enjoyment. A fire pit will help keep you warm on cooler nights. Night lighting will make it all shine and sparkle at night for you viewing enjoyment. The benefits of a water feature in the landscape are endless. So bring the healing effects of water by creating your own backyard paradise, where you will enjoy a mini vacation every day. Kevin and Diane Swan own Swan’s Water Gardens, a full service water garden center. You may contact them at 913-837-3510.
ORCHID AUCTION Sunday, April 17 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Lenexa Senior Center • 13420 Oak St., Lenexa, KS
Prices starting at $5.00 www.osgkc.org A fundraiser for the
Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City 28
April 2016 | kcgmag.com