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Image of a outdoor fountain
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Image of fountain from Gringo Jones
Mossy urns and rose-covered trellises add charm to a garden, but water brings serenity.
By Susan Caba
I am sitting in my yard, contemplating a patio. I wish I could say that I am sitting in my garden, but that would convey an undeserved image of order and beauty. A yard doesn’t become a garden until—as with so many aspects of life—it has a structure. The used bricks for the patio are stacked against one wall of the garage, the fencing panels against another. When those are installed, I can start furnishing and accessorizing.
(I should note that, to me, the word “garden” is almost exclusively a noun: I like to be in the garden. I don’t know how to garden.)
A bit of statuary tucked among the hostas, an arch covered with roses or wisteria, a lantern—there are almost as many embellishments for the garden these days as there are for an indoor living space.
At LeLu Metalcraft & Patio (13200 Manchester, 314-966-6195), Trey Lange will forge a custom trellis or gate or order Japanese rain chains that are both beautiful and functional. A blue-heron weathervane rendered in copper ($199) would be the ultimate touch for a poolhouse, if you’re lucky enough to have one, or could be mounted on a pole as free-standing art.
For the stately, “been there forever” look, there are big zinc urns ($144) at Warson Woods Antique Mall (10091 Manchester, 314-909-0123), suitable for a small castle, and there’s an airy metal gazebo ($795) just waiting for a curtain of ivy to turn it into a romantic hideaway. On a smaller scale, I can picture a small statue of a fairy sitting on a stump, reading ($67), among a patch of black-eyed Susans.
But if there’s one thing a garden needs, it’s a fountain. In his 1909 book On the Making of Gardens, Sir George Sitwell wrote that no garden was complete without water—“an element which, owing to its changefulness of form and mood and color and to the vast range of its effects, is ever the principal source of landscape beauty and has, like music, a mysterious influence over the mind.”
The music of a fountain is captivating. But a fountain, you must remember, is like a puppy—it can’t be left unattended.
“Everybody loves the sound of a fountain and the beauty of it, but they don’t realize there is a responsibility for taking care of it,” says Steve Weaber, manager at Ahner's Garden & Gifts (11697 Manchester, 314-822-2180). Ahner’s sells small recycling fountains for about $165, wall fountains for around $300 and larger fountains ranging from $400 to $600. In the filtered light and lush humidity of the greenhouse, the burbling of the fountains adds to the tropical atmosphere. But outdoors, a fountain can quickly run dry—on a hot, windy day, the water can evaporate in as little as 30 minutes—and the pump will be damaged. “The pump needs to remain submerged, or it will burn out,” explains Weaber.
Another key to success is making sure that the fountain is level. If it’s off-kilter, the water splashes out, exposing the pump. Weaber recommends that even a small fountain be set on a poured-concrete base—or at least a solid surface, such as brick or flagstone. The rubber stopper should be caulked with clear silicon or floral putty to prevent leaks.
Cast-concrete fountains (the only kind Ahner’s sells) should be cleaned occasionally with mild soap and a bristle brush—not bleach, because it can damage the finish. Use an algaecide—again, not bleach—to prevent brackish water. If you’re looking for a metal fountain, Weaber suggests visiting Gringo Jones (4470 Shaw, one block west of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 314-664-1666) or the Summer Winds Garden Center at the Timber Creek Nursery (54 Clarkson, 636-561-3419).
He cautions against choosing a fountain just because it’s cheap. A fountain of inferior-quality concrete or metal, even if it looks just like a more expensive model, will chip or break more easily.
And when winter approaches? The fountain should be drained, taken apart and stored in the garage to prevent cracking caused by freezing. At the very least, it should be drained and wrapped in burlap or a basket. And if even that is too much, the pump, rubber stoppers and other small components should be taken inside.
“We don’t recommend leaving them outside during winter,” says Weaber with an air of resignation; he has customers who must replace their pumps every spring because they were left outside. “The finish can go bad, or, if they are not completely emptied, residual water can freeze and crack the basin.”
For unusual fountains and garden furnishings, check Earth Designs/Environmental Gallery (8195 Big Bend, near Webster University). Owner Jeff De Pew has carried a few Asian-inspired granite lanterns and garden vessels (in the $300–$600 range) but is discontinuing those, starting sometime this spring, to feature hand-carved green granite pieces by an artist in New Mexico. The sign says that the store is open noon–6 p.m. every day, but you have the best chance of success on Friday and Saturday.
Japanese gardens have long included water elements, especially the serene and beautiful gardens that are the settings for tea ceremonies. Why? Japanese tea master Sen-No-Rikyu summed it up this way:
When you hear the splash
Of the water drops that fall
Into the stone bowl
You will feel that all the dust
Of your mind is washed away.
Or, as naturalist Loren Eisley put it, “If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in the water.”
