Splashing, dashing, dripping, rippling—the water rushes over a small waterfall, into a shallow pool. Bubbles float, then pop, as the water wiggles its way around the edges before finding another rock over which to scurry. A butterfly lazily flits from one flower to the next, diligently searching for nectar to sip along the banks of our little creek.
From somewhere high, a Scarlet Tanager drops down for a splash. On a barely submerged rock he squats down and splashes with his wings. He must have quite the life.
When a frog croaks or toad trills, well, that is extra credit. Who doesn’t enjoy frogs…?
Our dream stream doesn’t need to be just a dream. Bring it right to your yard, and do like I do. Watch it out the window while going about your work.
Well, maybe your work doesn’t lend itself to that quite like mine does as a magazine editor, but you get the point.
For twenty-five years I’ve enjoyed a waterfall in the backyard of someone I didn’t know. Usually when I pass by on the road, I glance over to see if the water is running. I often wished to park the car and walk over to it, but that didn’t seem like the right thing to do—not without permission.
But, this morning I wanted a fresh pool for this article. I would have to pay a visit.
“We have an unusual request. Do you mind if we photograph the water garden in your backyard?” I asked.
“Sure, help yourself. Gardeners like when other people enjoy their work,” Mrs. Garber told us.
I can already see I’m going to run out of room. I must hurry on. There is no space to tell about things like the rock painted as a hidden fawn. We spied it under a bush and immediately recognized it as a painting by Mrs. Eagle. We once ran an art lesson about her, entitled “How an Eagle Paints a Rock.”
So back to the stream, here are a few tips, as you consider building yours—for you—for wildlife.
