Garden Style - This Week: Eco Water Features

The Sunday Age

Sunday May 18, 2008

Jim Fogarty

Good ripple effects can be had for just two buckets of water. Landscaper Jim Fogarty rounds up some of the best water features.

The ideal water feature for our drought-ridden state is one that's easily maintained, but which does not draw heavily on water resources. Some of Melbourne's best water-feature designers have created products that operate on as little as two buckets of water, as many of them are reticulating. Thus, they can be operated with small quantities of rainwater or water collected from the bath. Avoid soapy water as it will discolour and may create bubbles.

Water features with enclosed troughs will be subject to significantly reduced evaporation. Many of these water features also operate with pumps that draw only small amounts of power.

Waterwise designs

Lump Sculpture Studio Well known for its innovative sculpture and water features, this design studio's newest is the Hybrid Copper Waratah - Stainless Water Feature. It's half light box and half water feature. Not only can this unit run on recycled water such as bath water, its pump runs on only 55 watts (comparable pumps on the market run at around 80-100w). The water is enclosed in a water-jet copper shroud. This protects the water flow from the wind and sun and reduces evaporation. The feature is lit with an efficient 35-watt light, turning it into a light box at night. This clever design makes a great focal point in a garden bed or against a feature wall. RRP $3600, Lump Sculpture Studio. Tel: 9429 7829, lump.com.au

Waterwerks If you live in an apartment, Waterwerks' Curve Cut Column with White Flame LED effect is ideal: it's compact and quite portable. It comes in an all-you-need package and is great for balconies, decks, or even indoors. The white LED light illuminates the water in the outlet so that the dancing bubble of water looks similar to a gently flickering flame, hence the name. 52x30x81cm. RRP $389, including pump and transformer, at Bunnings and major garden centres.

Tel: 1800 552 777, waterwerks.com.au

Terra Bella Design Sincerity 5, a compact, wall-mounted, stainless-steel fountain, runs on only 16 litres (two buckets) of water. There is very little or no splashing outside the bowl and evaporation is kept to a minimum. With a low-voltage pump, it is economical and great for small spaces and courtyards and can be used inside the house. It includes little vases and a candle holder. RRP $1495, including pump and light. Tel: 9756 0133,

terrabelladesign.com.au

Jass Design Rudi Jass is famous for his ability to craft metal and has created many popular water features and sculptures that have been sold nationally and overseas. Jass' water features create almost no splash, which limits the amount of water wasted. The Copper Water Wall looks great teamed with bluestone or stacked stone as it picks up on the iron fleck in the stone. Mounted on feature walls or side fences in the line of sight from indoors, it creates a good focal point and brightens up the area with lighting at night. RRP $3250, including pump (2100x800x170cm). Stockists: Fitzroy Nursery 9417 7705 or Gills Nursery, Brighton 9592 8711; jassdesign.com.au

Aludean Perfect for a balcony, small courtyard or indoors, this compact and stylish water feature comes complete with pump and trough. Just plug it in. RRP $498 (pebbles extra). Aludean, 1557 High Street, Glen Iris, 9813 8488, or Lotus Water Gardens, Gardenworld, Springvale Road, Braeside, 9798 4599

Will Wilson Will Wilson has carved a niche for himself with bronze sculpture for gardens. He incorporates Australian wildlife into his English-influenced work. Bronze is not cheap so a purchase will instantly become a legacy in a garden. Wilson's work adds some history and charm to gardens that are Australian in style, but European in influence. The Magpies' Bird Bath can be used as such or it can be turned into a running-water feature by reticulating the overflow into a trough below. It looks great with plants such as roses and flowering perennials. RRP $6300 + GST as a stand-alone bird bath. Willie Wildlife Sculptures,

0419 409 636,

williewildlifesculptures.com.au

Dean Durrant Design To reduce evaporation, this wall-mounted water feature has a deep trough, covered with a pebble tray. The trough catches any splashes from the descending water and the tray shades the water. Adjustable valves in the pipe lines control the flow of water to reduce splash. RRP $2300 including trough, pump and feature. Tel: 0405 419 145, deandurrantdesign.com.au

© 2008 The Sunday Age

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