One thing is to be said about the Formal water garden. It is contrived art, which combines innovation and construction skills with the beauty of flowing water in nature. The actual size of the formal pond will determine it’s success or lack there of. It is indeed possible to create a formal pool that is to large for it’s actual surroundings, however let us state right here and now that you should build your formal pool as large as you can. This is truly where bigger is better! Of course we realize there will be differences in budgets between pond owners, but there is a rhyme to our reason.
The larger the area of water you have, the better the chances for creating a stable Eco-system. Larger areas of water experience smaller slower temperature changes, which affects the appearance of algae. While all ponds have it, a pea soup green pond is not only undesirable, but also an Eco-system out of control.
In constructing your formal pool, use a variety of paving materials around the pond. Use a variety of textures and colors to contrast and complement the pool. You might, for an example, use a bluish-gray brick directly around the pool, a bluish colored cobblestone pathway around it leading to another garden area of your yard or a walkway to your home. With this scenario we could also use clay pots that have been painted all different shades of blue and blue-gray placed in-groups around the pool. Constructing a long narrow, flat pool can be made to appear wider by a pool that runs across it rather then with its length. You can also create an illusion of greater distance simply by making a rectangular pool narrower at the far end, away from normal viewing areas. Ideally you should choose a regular shape. These would include circles, squares, rectangles, and semi-circles. Below are a few ideas.
Obviously, you could conceivably combine any of these shapes to create a shape that is unique and interesting. Even pentagons and octagons can be used. If you can image it, it probably can be done. If you have existing straight paths and walls, then an oblong or square shape of water will flow with your areas. These also look great in areas that are completely paved with no large expanses of grass or field. Another acceptable design is inter-linking circle and oblong shapes. If you are considering having a fountain with moving water, select a circular or semi-circular shape. Use small fountains with this shape. Don’t over power the look with a massive structure plopped in the middle of your pool. You aren’t J. Paul Getty or Donald Trump and probably won’t have the money to make a 15’ statue of Venus shoot water and have it land exactly where it should to keep from soaking the whole area.
These circular shapes are great for open areas perhaps surrounded by grass or an expanse of flowers along the far side in a semi-circle configuration. Use your surrounding areas to help you with your design. If you use the simple examples and guidelines above, you should have no problem in deciding which is best for your situation.
