According to a recent USA Today
poll, water gardens, along with decks rank as the number one items
that people want to add to their yard over the next year. Interestingly
enough, water gardening wouldn't have been on the radar screen
at all five years ago, and suddenly they're right up there with
decks. Now why would you suppose that this is the case? Let's make
a few educated guesses.
Water Attracts
First, as they say, water attracts. I mean when you're driving
down the highway or the interstate and you look over and spot
a body of water whether it's a creek, a river, a lake, or a pond,
tell me that it doesn't grab your eyeballs and your imagination.
Well, this grabs your eyeballs and imagination principle is also
true of water gardens. When you have family and friends over,
just guess where they're inevitably going to gravitate and congregate.
If you answered 'around the pond,' you'd be the winner.
Cocooning
Second there's a relatively new phenomenon called cocooning which
describes the modern family's tendency to try and appreciate
things closer to home, instead of having to jump on airplanes
and go to an exotic land. That is to say, why fly to Jamaica,
when you can bring Jamaica into your own backyard and keep it
to yourself all year long? There's a reason why people call water
gardens a backyard paradise.
The Sounds of Tranquility and Peace
Third, when you add a waterfalls and stream to the pond, as many
a water garden enthusiast is doing these days, you're adding
the sounds of tranquility, of peacefulness, and relaxation. The
whole experience is so comforting, so soothing. When the modern,
twenty first century working person comes home after a hard day
on the job, they're often stressed out, agitated, and frustrated
from spending time in the midst of high tech gismology... computers,
e-mails, voice-mails, faxes, cell phones, pagers, etc.
They're also often working away in an environment that requires
more production for similar even less pay, and the day begins and
ends in a traffic jam. Under those circumstances do you think that
a dose of naturalistic tranquility, peacefulness, and relaxation
may be a welcome antidote to the old workplace? Some would even
call it intoxicating, and they'd be right.
And It's a Good Investment Too
Last but not least, in an era of investment instability there's
hardly a better and more predictable place to put your discretionary
funds than in real estate. And as long as you're going to invest
in real estate, why not make it your own home. As a matter of
fact, recent studies confirm that an investment in landscaping
is the best and most cost effective way to increase the value
of your home. And since water gardening is the hottest landscaping
item on the market, it's real easy to contend that the investing
in a beautiful, naturally balanced, aquatic ecosystem will pay
large dividends when it comes to your home equity!
