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. 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!
Don't miss out on our Free Classes for This August
Starting with August 2nd with Proper Filtration for Fish Ponds
(1pm-2pm)
This class will discuss Biological filters, UV Sterilizers, Other filtration like barrel filters and under-gravel filters, UV sterilizers, skimmers, and how many fish you can keep in your pond.
August 9th for Troubleshooting Your Leaking Pond
(1pm-2pm)
This class will help you with tricks and tips for isolating and repairing a leaking water feature.
August 16th for Pond Building 101 (1pm-3pm)
This class covers every aspect of pond building for the do-it-yourselfer. How big do I want my pond? Where will I place it? How difficult is it to keep fish and do I even want them? How do I keep predators out of the pond? What equipment should I include? How do I build a pondless water feature? Answer these questions and more in this all encompassing course. At the end of this class you will be ready to start digging out your water feature!
August 23rd for Pots, Bubblers and Spitters
(1pm-2pm)
Are you interested in a water feature but short on space? Looking for a less expensive water feature? Perhaps you’re not interested in the naturalistic pond style and prefer something a little more modern. Bubbling pots and spitters are a great option. You’ll be surprised to know just how easy and economical this type of water feature can be. Whether it’s an overflowing pot, a shallow pool with a bamboo spigot, or a series of spitters, you’ll learn how, and what you need to do it.
August 30th for Pond Building 102
(1pm-3pm)
This class quickly recaps pond building 101 and then spends the rest of the course going over how to properly build a waterfall/stream that will not leak! This is the area most DIY’s struggle with. You will get the tricks and tips, the do’s and don’ts, that we have gained building ponds since 2000.
Before & After for Garden & Pond Project
These customers contacted us to design a garden for their newly purchased home. The previous owners, who were Arizona natives, visited only occasionally, so the entire back garden had been covered in river rock. The new owners wanted to transform the space into a welcoming, functional garden.
Design Approach
Rick built the design around the few existing assets on site: several mature trees and a large rectangle of artificial turf.
He reshaped the turf into a more organic form, then added features that created movement, purpose, and visual interest throughout the garden:
• Pathways
• A pondless water feature
• A vegetable garden
• A destination patio
• A new patio off the covered back area
• Reshaped lawn areas
• New plants and garden lighting
To complete the transformation, we brought in 195 yards of soil, 80 yards of mulch, 24 tons of granite boulders, 29 yards of decorative crushed walkway material, 925 plants and trees, and 55 garden lights. The project was completed in four weeks.
Loving your new outdoor space that we designed for you? Small businesses (like ours) grow from reviews! Take 30 seconds to share your experience with our landscape design team!
Dive into the elegance of Shusui Koi!
Originating from Japan in the 1910s, this unique koi variety is renowned for its dramatic blue-black scales on the back and vivid, scaleless red sides.
Born from a cross between Asagi Koi and Mirror Carp, Shusui means “autumn water” and brings a striking beauty to any pond.
With a typical length of 18-30 inches, Shusui Koi thrive are perfectly hardy in our PNW weather.
Their scale pattern is not only rare—it enhances their vibrant body, making them a centerpiece in aquatic settings.
Add a splash of living art to your waterscape with Shusui Koi!
Say Goodbye to Green Ponds by removing the algae!
- Shade Over Sunlight: Just like us on a sunny day, algae love the sun. But if we block the sun, we block the algae. Easy, right? Get yourself some floating aquatic plants to create shade or pick up our special pond dye here at Falling Water Gardens. Less light means less algae. Simple.
- Starve the Algae: It’s feeding time, but not for algae! With a biological filter, we cut off their food supply. No more buffet, no more algae.
- UV Sterilizer Power: Imagine giving algae so much sunlight, it can’t handle it. That’s what a UV Sterilizer does – it zaps them out of existence.
Hungry for an algae-free pond? Head over to Falling Water Gardens to get your supplies today.
Hardy Water Lilies
These beautiful plants are perennials that survive cold winters (yep, they’re tougher than tropical lilies).
Hardy water lilies return each year from their rhizomes as long as the water doesn’t freeze solid.
Their floating flowers come in stunning colors like white, pink, yellow, and red. Bonus: they bloom during the day—open in the morning and close by afternoon.
Hardiness: Perfect for USDA Zones 3-11.
Benefits:
- Add beauty to ponds & water features
- Provide shade + reduce algae
- Offer shelter in the pond ecosystem
- Attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, & hummingbird
Rudbeckia hirta ‘Autumn Colors
This fast-growing, sun-loving perennial is a Black-Eyed Susan variety with 5 to 7-inch blooms in rich shades of bronze, yellow, gold, and red with a dark burgundy center.
It is exceptionally drought-tolerant once established, perfect for these hot dry summers we have been having!
Details
- Size: 18–24 in. tall, 12–24 in. wide.
- Bloom: Early summer to frost.
- Zones: USDA 3–7; often grown as an annual or self-seeding short-lived perennial.
Care
- Sun: Full sun for best blooms.
- Soil: Average to moist, well-drained soil.
Pollinator Value
- Attracts: Bumblebees, native bees, and butterflies.
- Seeds: Winter seed heads feed songbirds.
Royal Pickerel Rush
Why It’s Awesome:
● Tall & Eye-catching: Grows 3-6 feet with vibrant blue flower spikes.
● Wildlife Friendly: Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, plus provides shade for fish.
● Perfect for Ponds: Ideal for water gardens and ponds.
Plant Details:
● Size: Up to 6 feet tall and 12 inches wide.
● Hardiness: Thrives in zones 6-11.
● Water Depth: Prosper in moist soil or water up to 10 inches deep.
Bee Balm (Monarda)
Bee Balm (Monarda) is a hardy, easy-to-grow perennial that thrives in full sun to partial shade, rich and moist well-drained soil, and zones 3 through 9, producing vibrant tubular flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Care Essentials
- Sunlight: Plant in full sun for the best blooms, though it accepts light afternoon shade.
- Water: Keep the soil moist during the first year; mature plants tolerate mild drought but prefer regular water.
- Spacing: Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart to ensure good air flow and prevent powdery mildew.
- Pruning: Cut dead stems back to the ground in late winter or early spring.
Have you toured our lush, garden-filled grounds at Falling Water Gardens yet?
Garden weddings are IN right now, and Falling Water Gardens is the perfect place to realize the garden wedding you’ve been dreaming of!
Perfect for couples dreaming of a picture-perfect garden wedding, our venue is surrounded by enchanting gardens, serene water features, large koi ponds, and cascading waterfalls.
Explore four breathtaking ceremony locations: the formal sunken wedding garden, the upper lawn, the grotto, and our unique labyrinth.
With stunning landscapes and magical backdrops, it’s the perfect place to create memories that last a lifetime.
Come visit us today and discover the beauty of Falling Water Gardens!
You’re welcome to take a tour of the venue here at Falling Water Gardens because the only way to grasp the magic and beauty of the venue is to come see us in person!
We offer tours year-round, and the venue is in flower from early May til Labor Day in September.
