Times Advocate, 1995-06-07, Page 6Discovering magic of a
Interested participants learn the art of installing a water garden at the Cott
Ingrid Nielsen TA Staff
GRAND BEND - For those who
can't live by the water but still want
its magical sights and sounds, they
listendit to Cam Steckle and Mike
Needles, of Cobble Design Inc. in
Zurich, Ion Friday explain how to
install a water garden in your own
backyard.
The workshop, called Create a
Water Garden, was part of the Cot-
tage Country Interiors show in
Grand Bend from May 27 to June
11. The show includes many differ-
ent workshops on home -related top-
ics.
Steckle, President, and Needles,
Design Consultant, covered the wa-
ter feature itself from a more nat-
ural approach. They used a garden
they had installed for the show in
April. Their presentation included
the proper setting, installation and
upkeep of a water garden, as well
as the costs and labour involved.
"The first thing to consider," said
Needles. "Is the setting. What are
you trying to achieve with the wa-
ter. What kind of sound are you
looking for."
Needles demonstrated the sounds
of water being pumped through at
2,000 gallons per hour, and then
1,200 and 800 gallons. The crowd
was much more impressed with
lower pressure.
"You really don't need the 2,000
gallon pump for a water garden this
size," said Needles. Most gardens
look for a more gentle trickle of
water.
Needles and Steckle suggest
keeping the garden slightly back
from the house to avoid too much
noise. They also warn that the gar-
den will attract insects.
The location should also be
somewhere accessible for construc-
tion. Give a lot of
thought to the
spot, because
once it is in
place, the garden
cannot be moved.
Determine the
depth and size of
'the pond. There
are certain safety regulations that
will mean a fence is necessary if
the pond is too deep.
Once the area is excavated, the
leftover soil can be used to build up
the back of the structure. The area
in the back has to be elevated to
hold larger stones.
"Always try to work with lime-
stone around the outside," said
Needles. It is a natural stone to this
area. Anything else can be very ex-
pensive to transport.
Underneath the water is also very
important. Both Needles and Steck-
le emphasized that this is not the
area to pinch pennies. A good liner
pr garden
will last forever, and it should Beet
least 60 millimeters thick. Under
the large rocks in back, put a thick
fabric between the rocks and the
liner to protect against punctures.
The liner is soon invisible as the
rocks are placed around the outside
of the garden. The back is built up
for the water to run down, and the
rocks are placed somewhat random
to look more natural.
"Build up the
sides to catch any
escaping water.
Water is a funny
thing. It will al-
ways find a way to
get away from
you," said Steckle.
It is also very
important to make the sides of the
pond even. Otherwise, the liner will
show on the higher side.
After the rocks are placed, stone
mulch and mortar can be used to
hide any other exposed liner or
parts. It is important to dig the
walls of the initial hole on a gentle
slope so the smaller rocks will hold
later. It should be between a 45 and
60 degree angle.
There are many ways to dress up
the water garden in a natural way.
These include lighting, water plants
and fish.
"With fish, you have to be a little
careful about keeping the water
"Water is a funny thing.
It will always
try to get away
from you."
ountry Interiors Show
A beautiful example of how a water garden can enhance the tranquillity and beauty of any back
yard. This display is part of the Country Cottage Interiors Show in Grand Bend.
Hay not prohibiting smoking
in township eating places
ZURICH - Hay township council
will not be considering a bylaw to
prohibit smoking in restaurants and
eating places in the municipality.
The decision was made after re-
sponses to the question were re-
ceived from owners of such estab-
lishments.
Chief building official Milton
Dietrich reported that he had issued
four building permits during the
month of April with n total value of
$26,300.
Dietrich was authorized to issue a
building permit to Parker and Park-
er for part of Lot 20, Concession
North Boundary for porch recon-
struction subject to the owners
signing a letter of acknowledgment
Discussion on proposed drainage
at the Bluewater Properties subdivi-
sion was deferred on a request by
Mr. Brisson until a few other peo-
ple may be able to attend.
Council went on record as being
opposed to a proposed county of
Huron minor exemption to the
county bylaw passed in 1986 for
Veri Farms unless two acres of
trees with a minimum height of
threc feet are planted across the
back and two acres are planted
across the middlle of the farm.
Following comments from the
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Au -
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For all your roofing needs
BIG TOWN QUAUTY at
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NO JOB TO SMALL
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KELLER
thority on the Monteith severance
application, council felt a commu-
nal beach access is not required,
that there must be a mutual agree-
ment drain for the drainage system
and that the rezoning of the area on
top of the bank to NEi was not nec-
essary as the township zoning by-
law is sufficiently restrictive.
BUSINESS
DIRECTORY
AUCTIONEERS •
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Call or fax 519- 666-0833
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Reasonable rates
Bob 235-0874
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Times -Advocate, June 7, 1995
Page 5
clean, but the water should not be
clear. It should be an amber colour
to look natural," said Needles.
The water plants add a nice
touch. They can be native plants
such as water lilies or cattails, or
tropical plants such as water hya-
cinths or parrot feather.
One of the most important factors
with the pond will be the choice
and maintenance of the pump. As
mentioned earlier, 1,200 gallons
per hour is sufficient for most back-
yard gardens. With bigger pumps,
it is also very important to install a
control valve.
"The pump should run at least 20
hours a day. There is a mis-
conception that the pump shouldn't
run too much. This is wrong. It is
harder on the pump to sit idle in the
water. It causes corrosion," said
Steckle.
As for cost, it varies greatly with
who does the work. To install it
yourself, the basic rocks and water
cost between $800 and $1,000. To
have the garden installed for you, it
costs between $3,000 and $5,000.
Steckle and Needles suggest try-
ing to install the garden yourself. It
isn't that difficult, and it is an in-
vestment in your home and peace
of mind.
Alzheimers
program
New appointments
The VON Alzheimer Support Program for Middlesex has an-
nounced two new appointments effective immediately. Do-
reen Greenfield, London, has been named co-ordinator,
and Dianne DaPonte is the new support staff. DaPonte has
previously worked at The Age Dispatch, Strathroy as office
manager and later was telephone secretary at Executive
Services. She has been an active volunteer in her church
and many community organizations. Greenfield's early nurs-
ing experience was in England at a hospital of older pa-
tients, and later in England and Germany with the British
Armed Forces. Since coming to Canada, she has earned
her Bachelor of Social Work at Kings College, and worked
for a time in Victoria Hospital and Third Age Outreach at St.
Joseph's. For a year she was a volunteer at the Dearness
home in London and with the VON Alzheimer Support Pro-
gram here. Left to right, Dianne DaPonte, Doreen Green-
field.
EXETER -Provincial funding has
been approved for the South Huron ,/
Alzheimers Day Away Program. 11
Chairperson Ann Morris told the 11
T -A Monday the organization is ►1
presently orienting a new staff 11
member for the program which will ,/
be held on Fridays at the Exeter
Villa.
"The first day is expected to be
July 7 with an official grand open-
ing in the early fall," Morris said.
The first clients will be from the
South Huron area who have been
commuting to Clinton. Morris ex-
pressed thanks to all tho have of-
fered support and encouragement to
the committee in the past year.
We are now receiving 1i1111
monthly shipments of
Best Seger
/Novels
at
.Lt2Ul/ .UI
Gaiser Kneale
235-2420, 238-8484
* GIC rarer subject to change. Short term
rate: available. Segregated Funds rater
reflect actual part performance. Future
returns will vary.
Investments
GIC / RSP
1 Yr. - 6.85%
3 Yr. - 6.75%
5yr. -7.00%
Segregated Funds
2YR.-7.31%
3YR. -8.40%
5 YR. - 9.47%
Illi
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+•
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