It’s the dog days of summer!
We know it can be hot and dry this time of year, but there’s no reason you can’t find some cool relief in your garden.
We have some incredible plants to give some shade for your fish – and your garden – on sale here at Falling Water Gardens, and some great ways to add a little splash to your backyard to help with the August heat.
Back by the raised lily pond, we have a wonderful selection of fountains including our popular basalt column fountains (see above!). These don’t need a big pond and are something you can install on your own with the right know-how, or we can install it for you. We also have a collection of smaller bubblers and decorative concrete fountains for smaller spaces.
In the nursery, we have a few ideas for shade plants for your fish and flowers for the garden that do well in the heat. Come see us while the weather is great!
New garden stream
Rebuilt stream and waterfall
Falling Water Designs specializes in installations and rebuild projects! We work on everything from small fountains to large koi ponds, garden streams and waterfalls.
We’ve been busy helping customers renovate their ponds lately!
We are often called to revamp existing features and reimagine an outdated or worn-out landscape.
One customer in North Seattle inherited an old concrete pond that leaked. We demoed the entire thing and rebuilt a larger goldfish pond with a new stream. We also installed paths throughout the garden using decorative crushed rock.
A second customer in Snohomish had a leaking stream with a lot of exposed liner. We removed the stream/waterfall and rebuilt it into their existing pond.
Upgraded pond with all new equipment
A third customer in Snohomish wanted to upgrade their pond equipment so that the water would be clear. In the process she decided to redo the waterfall/stream as well, so we demoed what she had, brought in seven yards of soil to build a proper mound, rebuilt the waterfall and installed all of her new equipment purchased at Falling Water Gardens.
Kohaku
We’re featuring one of the most popular breeds of koi, Kohaku.
What must you consider when picking out a Kohaku?
- skin quality
- pattern
- body shape
Kohaku are known for their lustrous white skin and vibrant red markings. The red markings across the body are called Hi and the radiant white is called Shiroji. The more Shiroji and balanced Hi on a Kohaku, the better!
Another aspect to note is the koi’s body type. You want the koi to have a thick caudal peduncle and a broad upper body.
Kohaku enthusiasts also look for vibrant and balanced Hi, with crisp lines, contrasting the white and red.
DelphiniumDelphinium yield elegant and exquisite, colorful flower spikes that add a majestic touch to your garden. Taller varieties such as Giant Pacific Hybrid Delphiniums will require staking. They make exceptional cut flowers, will attract hummingbirds and come in several different beautiful colors!
Coneflower EchinaceaThere are several verity of Echinacea also known as coneflower. Echinacea, a North American genus in the Daisy family, produces big, bright flowers from late June until frost. Plants thrive in average soils, withstand hot, dry conditions, and shrug off cold. Blooms last well cut or dried, and the seeds in the large cone at the heart of the flower head provide nourishment for birds.
A list of Echinacea sold at Falling Water Gardens in Monroe, WA
- Double Scoop Mandarin
- Sambrero Hot Coral
- Tomato Soup
- Tangerine Dream
- Green Jewel
- Hot Papaya
Dinosaur Food, Gunnera Manicata
Gunnera manicata, commonly called giant rhubarb, is one of the largest herbaceous perennials on earth, typically growing in a rounded clump to as much as 10′ tall and to 14′ wide. It is native to southern Brazil and Columbia.
We have some very large gunnera plants here at the nursery, affectionately known as Dinosaur Food because of their size! Find it near the dragon – you’ll know it when you see it. Don’t worry about transporting a monster, though, as we sell them in one-gallon pots.
Just in time for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand! The Phormium ‘Tenax’ also known as New Zealand flax is an evergreen perennial. It provides great contrast and presence in mixed plantings. Grows to about 3 ft tall and can take full sun to partial shade.
This decorative grass is hardy and resistant to drought, provided it gets ample water shortly after planting.
Did you see something you’re interested in on a recent visit and can’t remember the instructions to care for your new plant? Check out our plant database, and ever-growing index of the plants we sell here at the nursery. You can get tips on the amount of sun, watering needs, placement in the garden and even other plants that may pair well with what you have!
If you’re ever here on site and are curious about something you see, scan the QR code on the sign to access the database entry on the plant in question.
We’re nearing the end of our 2023 wedding season and looking forward to 2024 and beyond! We will have the tent and other portions of the wedding venue set up through Labor Day weekend, so if you or someone you know have been waiting to take a tour now is the time.
The venue is in near perfect form! We have the footbridge just off the upper lawn with string lighting and a circular flagstone dance floor. The bar sits at the edge of the upper lawn, ringed by luscious bamboo and florals.
In the formal sunken garden, there’s a stunning carpet of white and purple with the lavender in season. Here we have the lawn games and tables surrounding the central green with the large white tent on the south end of the lawn.
Just beyond the entrance to the formal garden are our glamping tents, which are available for the wedding party to get ready for the big day! These are also available to rent on a nightly basis when we don’t have an event – see more in our Glamping section below.
Come tour with us while we have this beautiful weather in the forecast! The gardens are still gorgeous into the fall, but nothing compares to the venue in the height of the summer.
With the summer weather, our glamping tents are also up and running!
With summer in full swing, you may be looking for local getaway – and you can do that right here at Falling Water Gardens in our ‘gram-worthy glamping tents.
We have two setups: a four-person tent and a two-person tent. Both are nestled in the peaceful back corner of the gardens with dedicated parking and front-row seats for our goats and alpacas!
Guests are free to walk the gardens, or enjoy the common area with the BBQ and fire pit. We’re just a few minutes outside Monroe with quick access to local restaurants, and river access at the Ben Howard Rd boat launch and both Monroe riverfront parks.
You can visit our AirBnB listings for more information and availability. We have two setups: The Huntsman sleeps two, and the Satterley sleeps four.
