A PLACE FOR REFLECTION; WATER GARDENS PARADISE TO BACK YARDS.

Byline: Kathy Huber Houston Chronicle

Water. A welcome, cooling thought these hot, dry days.

A water garden can lessen the wallop of triple-digit temperatures. The sight and sound of water magically calms and cools the irritable and overheated.

``It can be quite hot, but you just sit there and listen to the waterfalls and watch the fish, and it's better than Prozac,'' says Gerry Goldberg, who still enjoys the extensive water garden he built in his Chatsworth back yard in 1983.

Egyptians and Persians got the idea thousands of years ago when they installed decorative pools in their gardens. The cool, reflective surfaces were the antithesis to dry desert sands.

Centuries later, Americans are splurging on water gardens of all shapes and sizes. Now ponds, pools and watertight containers filled with aquatics have made their way into back yards and onto patios and even apartment balconies.

There is a water garden for every person, for every budget. It doesn't have to be expensive, and it doesn't have to be a major hassle, says Pat Berberian, owner of California Art Products Co. in North Hollywood.

``We do lots of ponds, prefabricated ponds. All you have to do is dig a hole and drop it in,'' Berberian said.

A water garden can be as simple or elaborate as you make it, he added. And the prices vary accordingly, from $100 for a shallow 2-by-4-foot pond to $1,900 for a deep 13-by-8-foot model that can house fish and deep-rooted water plants.

Despite Los Angeles' drought-prone climate, water gardens can be an environmentally friendly choice for backyard landscapes.

Goldberg, whose water garden includes two waterfalls and a school of koi, says electrical costs to run the pond's filters 24 hours a day is the primary expense. But the enjoyment he gets in return is worth every penny, he said.

The pleasant sounds of his water garden have become a natural buffer for the traffic noise that rumbles from the busy main drag only one lot beyond his yard.

``It really isn't apparent until you turn off the pump and the waterfall,'' Goldberg said. ``The coursing of the water on the waterfall creates a white noise that is really quite wonderful.''

Location and size

Putting in a water garden isn't difficult, but there are some basics to consider.

Try to steer clear of tree branches when placing a water garden, not only because falling leaves can be a nuisance, but also because branches block light. Most aquatics like abundant sunlight.

Avoid low spots. A hard rain can carry unwanted fertilizers, pesticides and other contaminants into a water garden installed in low areas.

Place a water garden where you can enjoy it.

Once you've determined location, consider size. A water garden does not have to be large to be enjoyable. You can create a water garden in most any watertight container or install an in-ground pond in the back yard.

Type of garden

Apartment gardeners can enjoy water gardens in containers. Those with land have the option of installing in-ground concrete, preformed or liner ponds.

Installing a concrete pond is labor intensive. Also, the material must be thick enough - 4 to 5 inches - to withstand the water's weight, which is 8-1/2 pounds per gallon. A 6-by-6-foot pond that is 18 inches deep will hold 405 gallons of water. That's 3,442 pounds. You may want to call in a professional.

A preformed fiberglass pond is a quick solution for the homeowner who wants a water garden. Shapes vary considerably, from rectangular to round, crescent to lagoon. You will need to dig a level hole, drop in the pond, fill with water and stock. Preformed ponds also may be placed on patios or dropped into decks. Prices vary.

Many water gardeners select economical PVC or rubber liners. The heavy-duty materials vary in thickness and size, giving gardening design options. Sturdy liners cannot be torn by hand and, even if punctured, are easily repaired. Most are guaranteed for 20 years. Liners run from under $25 to hundreds of dollars.

To install a water garden using a liner, first outline the shape you wish with a garden hose or rope.

Mark the outline with a shovel. Then begin digging, at a depth no more than 2 feet, from the inside out. Most water gardens are 12 to 24 inches deep. The pond can be a uniform depth, or you can carve a shelf for those plants that prefer shallower waters. As an alternative to an earthen shelf, try a concrete block, painted black, to display such plants.

Make sure the excavation will not allow pond water to overflow or run off from heavy rains pouring in.

Once excavation is completed, drape and shape the liner, smoothing out wrinkles. Leave the excess for the time being.

Begin filling the pond with water. When nearly full, trim the excess from the liner. Secure and camouflage the edges with brick or stone coping.

Once a pond is installed, there is the fun of stocking the water garden. Plants, fish and scavengers - those snails, tadpoles and clams that help keep the pool clean - are the inhabitants for this watery world.

Choosing plants

There are numerous aquatic plants to choose from and countless ways to arrange their textures, lines and colors in a water garden.

It is important, however, to include oxygenating plants in the water garden to compete for the nutrients on which unwanted algae thrive.

These plants also provide shelter for spawning fish and absorb carbon dioxide given off by fish.

Oxygenating plants include anacharis (Elodea densa), parrot's feather (Myriophyllum brasilienese) and red hygrophilia (Hygrophilia polysperma rubra).

Floating plants may or may not have roots anchored in buckets of soil placed on the bottom of the pond.

Floaters include duckweed (Lemna minor) and water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes).

Of course, every water garden needs a flower or two. Waterlilies (Nymphaea spp.) produce exotic, jewel-like blooms and circular, flat, floating foliage.

Plant waterlilies in buckets of garden soil that is void of peat, perlite or vermiculite. Sprinkle pea gravel on top of the soil to keep the dirt in place and to discourage fish from uprooting your plants.

If you opt for a fountain in your water garden, place the plants where the water is calm.

As you shop for oxygenators, floaters and flowers, consider bog plants to increase vertical, textural and colorful interest. In nature, bog or marginal plants live in the consistently moist area at a pond's edge. These are the plants that can perch on that shelf you created when digging your water garden.

Among the root-hardy marginals are pickerel rush (Pontederia cordata) with violet-blue bloom spikes; horsetail (Equisetum hyemale), recognized by its slender, round, jointed stems; and miniature cattail (Typha minima).

Avoid the use of pesticides in the water garden. Add fish to take care of mosquito larvae. Goldfish are better for smaller ponds. Koi need considerable room.

Scavengers help maintain a healthy, balanced aquatic world. Snails will scour the sides and bottom of the pond. Tadpoles eat decaying plant material and algae, too.

Smaller water gardens can be balanced, self-sustaining ecosystems, but it can take a few months to achieve that balance, so don't panic if the water goes off-color. A larger body of water may need a filtering system. There are mechanical and biological filters, both placed outside the pond.

Fishing for free solution to mosquito problem

Hot weather plus water gardens equals mosquitoes - if you fail to take necessary precautions.

Fortunately, there's a simple - and free - solution to the problem, courtesy of the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.

All you need to do is bring a bucket and the district will provide you with mosquito fish, scientifically known as Gambusia affinis, to feast on the water-breeding insects all year round, said Paul O'Connor, vector ecologist for the district.

The hearty fish from the guppie family grow to about 3 inches long and are effective at gobbling up mosquito larvae.

Adding a waterfall to your water garden also can help reduce the pesky population of mosquitoes, which like to breed in still water.

If fish is the way you're going, the district office at 12741 Saticoy St. in North Hollywood is your answer. Call ahead to ensure that the district has a supply of mosquito fish available when you come with your bucket. The service is available to the public year-round.

To reach the vector control district, call [phone].

- Betty Kwong

Daily News Staff Writer Betty Kwong contributed to this story.

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos, Box

Photo: (1--Cover--Color) Trickle-down Theory

When the heat is on, a water garden can soothe your senses.

(2) Gerry Goldberg's Japanese-style water garden is an oasis in the back yard of his Chatsworth home.

(3) A lamp at water's edge carries out the theme.

(4) Goldberg feeds the koi in his pond.

David R. Crane/Daily News

Box: Fishing for free solution to mosquito problem (See Text)