WATER GARDEN IS ANTIDOTE TO SULTRY SUMMER.

Byline: JANE GATES Gardening

SANTA CLARITA - Water gardening has become very popular all over the country. With our hot, dry and sunny climate, the sound of water from streams, fountains and ponds creates a welcome addition, whether it issues from a tiny source or a large focal point.

Water gardens can be a source of fascination. Aquatic plants create their own special effects.

This week, I'm devoting this column to exploring some of the wonderful plants that grow in the wettest of places. Bog plants, for example, need to keep at least their 'toes' wet and usually tolerate water right up to their 'necks.'

Typical bog plants are taro, water iris, cattail, pickerel and the four-leaf clover family of Marsellia. There are grass-type bog plants with all shape and size leaves, from the corkscrew-curled rushes to the umbrella-styled cyperus. These plants look great around the edges of ponds.

Of the plants that dive in over their heads, the water lily is probably the best known. The regal lotus is worthy of growing in any water garden, too. Both plants will grow larger and flower better in very big containers - the bigger the better. They need at least five hours of sun here. When happy, they put on breathtaking displays of both flower and foliage and offer a vast array of colors.

There also is an assortment of plants that are usually grown on land but are so tolerant of moisture that they can be used like bog plants. Cannas, lobelia cardinalis and red leaf anternanthera are some examples. I find these plants are a little shorter-lived in water than on land, though.

Then there are the floating water plants. These do not have to be planted at all, but form colonies on the surface of the water. Examples are the well-known water hyacinth with its purple painted flowers (and yes, this is the same plant that has become a noxious weed in Florida), and the sculptural water lettuce. Parrots' feather is a light and delicate plant that will root in soil if given a chance, but will also float on the surface.

These plants help aerate the water during the day and provide shade for fish. They add practicality and beauty and can sometimes be used in smaller water features like fountains.

Water gardening is fascinating for adults and children alike. There are hundreds of plants you can grow in water gardens. Then there are fountains, decorations, fish and many more tangents to explore. Small water gardens are easily created, but beware: These can easily grow into addictions leading to larger ponds.

Water gardening does take constant care. Make sure your water garden stays clean, healthy and free of mosquitoes. Algae must be removed regularly. If you avoid poisons, you can keep goldfish or mosquito fish in reasonably small areas and they will keep mosquito larva in check.

Koi require a lot of special care, so do your research before committing to these fish. If you don't want fish, try the environmentally friendly mosquito dunks available at pond and fountain suppliers. Then have fun in playing in your cool water garden this hot summer.