Change with the Season
Adding seasonal decor to your pond and water features can refresh the look of your garden and celebrate the changing seasons. Here are some creative ideas for each season to enhance the beauty and enjoyment of your backyard waterscape.
Spring
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Plant spring bulbs around the pond. Consider tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths for vibrant colors. Anything that catches your eye is the perfect addition around your feature.
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Place floating flower arrangements or colorful floating orbs in the pond for a touch of whimsy. Kids especially love watching floating arrangements in your pond!
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Birdhouses and feeders encourage wildlife to make a stop. Adding birdhouses and feeders nearby also welcomes the return of birds in spring.
Summer
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Add tropical plants like canna lilies or elephant ears for a lush, vibrant look. While our Minnesota climate may not be the most friendly for some exotic tropical plants, bringing your summer plants indoors when things start getting cold at the end of the year is one way to incorporate some special plants in your space.
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If you’re thinking about seasonal plants, water lilies thrive in the summer sun, adding beauty and shade to the pond. Getting your lilies firmly planted in the summer will help ensure they stay healthy during our cold winter months.
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String solar-powered fairy lights around the pond for make for enchanting summer evenings. The lights can create a dazzling display over the surface of the pond that will leave you in awe of your serene water garden.
Autumn
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While many decorate their front entryway with pumpkins, you can get outside the box and arrange pumpkins and gourds around your pond too. In the same way as floating flower arrangements, you could also consider floating some mini pumpkins for a super fun fall touch.
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You could also incorporate potted mums, asters, or ornamental cabbages to bring autumn colors to your pond setting. This really applies to any time of year–find the flower or plant matching the season, and get it next to your feature!
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As the nights grow longer, you could add lanterns or solar lights for a warm, cozy glow. Or, add a pondside fire feature or a fire ring to get some cozy time around your beautiful pond.
Winter
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Placing some evergreen boughs and holly around the pond’s edge for a splash of color against the winter landscape will add some wonderful charm!
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As the weather drops, your pond will freeze, creating ice sculptures that have a magical winter look to them. While this may not be an intentional act of decorating on your part, it’s still a part of your ponds winter decor.
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Adorning the feature area with waterproof LED holiday lights or weather-resistant ornaments will bring a festive atmosphere to perfectly match the winter wonderland the ice brings to your pond. Turn it into your very own winter haven!
All Seasons
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Whether it’s summer or winter, statues can be a timeless addition to any yard. You can invest into some themed statuary that reflect the season, or simply find some timeless masterpiece that connects to you all-year-round.
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Wind chimes are often forgotten as a yard feature. Hanging wind chimes complement the season’s ambiance, whether it’s the gentle tinkling in a summer breeze or the robust tones during a brisk winter wind.
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If you have kids, get fun and creative with pinwheels, flyers, flags, decorative stakes, fairy gardens, and whatever you want! It’s your pond, your yard, and your rules. Run with it!
Maintenance
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At the end of the day, keep your pond tidy. Remove dead flowers and fallen leaves so that your pond doesn’t become neglected. A neglected pond isn’t appealing or healthy.
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Don’t forget to adjust your pond care routine with each season, such as more frequent cleaning in the fall or shutting down appropriate pumps before freezing in winter. With a little bit of cleaning and maintenance help, your pond will virtually run on its own!
With these seasonal decoration ideas, your pond and water features can become a focal point of celebration throughout the year, reflecting the natural beauty and charm of each season.