Selwyn Times: October 18, 2016

30
Tuesday October 18 2016
Gardening
SELWYN TIMES
Water has a calming and cooling effect
IN THE heat of summer, water
brings a welcome cooling effect
to any garden and its use is
one that every gardener should
consider.
Water’s cooling magic works in
two ways – physical and psychological
– and understanding
these helps the gardener best
harness its powers.
Jumping into a cool pool is
a great way of chilling out on a
hot day, but even if we don’t take
the plunge, a body of water has a
cooling effect because evaporation
from its surface helps cool
the surrounding air.
This air-cooling effect is greatest
when water is splashed or
dispersed into small droplets,
because this tends to increase the
amount that evaporates. And if
some is splashed onto our skins
and clothing, we notice this
cooling effect directly.
Water’s psychological cooling
powers are partly due to association.
We have all been exposed
to its physical cooling features,
so even just thinking about a
gushing waterfall or bush pool
helps us feel cooler.
Seeing or hearing water has an
even greater effect than imagining
it. There’s a further way
water seems to help us chill out
on a hot day. This is due to its
EFFECTIVE: Use a statue with flowing water in an untidy corner to give it some life, however, a pump and water supply will be
necessary.
calming effects. It’s hard to feel
hot and bothered when contemplating
a calm sheet of water or
when soothed by the sounds
of water trickling, gurgling or
gently splashing.
Even the impersonal, repetitive
crash of strong surf can have a
remarkably calming effect. The
question for the gardener is how
best to exploit these combined
cooling powers of water in the
summer garden, keeping in
mind that the same cooling
effects could also be an unwelcome
in winter.
Even the smallest garden
space can use water effectively.
For example, on a patio you can
enjoy the sight and sound of
water trickling over the edges
of a simple receptacle or simple,
sculptured shape before being
recycled through a small
pump.
You will find examples of these
at most garden centres, some
complete with pump. All you
need is access to power, which
on a patio usually doesn’t create
major problems.
Alternatively, you can purchase
a pump separately and
design your own water spilling
feature if have reasonable handyman
skills. When choosing or
designing such a feature, consider
the merits of a piece that
will look good when the water
is not flowing because this may
prove a more attractive option in
winter.
Another way to incorporate
water in a small space is to
purchase or make a water spout.
Traditional examples include
wall-mounted ones with water
gushing out of a lion’s mouth but
simple abstract spouts or those
featuring natural materials can
be as or more attractive.
Again you will need a small
pump to recycle the water from
where it falls back to its source.
Other ways to use water on a
patio are in small containers,
such as raised oblong troughs
bordered by appropriate plants
to soften their base.
Waterfalls are harder to incorporate
on the patio. A fairly
popular interpretation is made
of a series of tiny stacked ponds
mounted in a corner.
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