Color Accents for Concrete Garden Art

Pam O’Brien and Harry Post presented one of the January programs.  They are owners of ArtStone Gardens, the metro’s newest garden statuary business in Lee’s Summit.  A distinctive feature of their statuary is the unique look produced by acid washing concrete to produce an aged appearance.  Acid washing is not supposed to fade.  However, the chemicals used are very toxic and cannot be sold to the public.  They also sell concrete stains and paints that can be used on a variety of surfaces. 

Concrete acid stains and paints can be purchased to produce your own unique garden art.  Non-toxic concrete acid stains can also be found at Lowe’s, Home Depot, and similar stores.  Concrete stains contain a sealer.  Stains do not chip or flake but may eventually fade in sunlight (UV light).  The amount and rate of fading depends on the specific composition of each concrete piece and the color.  Stain binds to the aggregate in concrete.  For example, green will fade more than very dark colors.  A more glossy or matte finish can be obtained by using an additional spray sealer.  Driveway sealer can also be used to protect and repel water.  It usually darkens colors.  Paints suitable for use on concrete can also be found at craft stores such as Michael’s.  The ones demonstrated during the program can be used on many other surfaces including plaster, metal, and plastic.  Painted surfaces will eventually fade and peel within a few years.  Plastics should not be left outside during winter.  Metallic paints produce effective results but are not designed for outdoor use except on a covered patio.  

Caution:  Muriatic acid is sometimes used to clean concrete or stone.  However, it changes the composition of the surface and acid stains will no longer work.

Pam brought several stained and painted pieces to show what can be done to change the look of ordinary concrete and terra cotta pots to create true garden accents.  She showed several terra cotta pots that had been dry brushed to create a more interesting accent.  To create outstanding and unusual pots, stencils or other ornaments can be glued on with epoxy and then sealed with a spray sealer.  Pam demonstrated dry brushing and antiquing on a couple of pieces.  If the paint color dries too fast to rub off adequately for antiquing, more can be removed with a damp cloth.   Also work in small areas.  Pam and Harry answered audience questions throughout the presentation.  It will take several days for color to ‘cure’ to a final color.  To get an idea of the area covered by a jar of paint, Pam answered that an average 10” planter needs approximately one 2 oz. jar of basecoat and about 1/2 jar of antiquing coat.

Pebbles & Water & Plants! Oh My! The Landscape Surrounding Our Pond

Ami Leighter is a horticulturist, designer, and owner of Summit Garden Design.  She is also a senior gardener at Powell Gardens, and teaches gardening, art classes, and seminars.  She shared some of her knowledge about garden design for water gardens acquired through years of study and experience.

Conceptualize:  How to make a pond and the surrounding landscape fit together.  What style or look do you desire for the entire garden?  Do you prefer wild or natural, or sedate, prim and proper, or formal?  Look at books; go on tours, etc. to find a style you like.  The proper style will give you the best feelings and create an emotional connection with the pond and garden.  What do you expect from your garden?  If you think in terms of adjectives it will help create the effect you want.  Do you want calmness and relaxation or inspiration and revitalization?  Children, dogs, and other outdoor activities also have an influence on design. 

Design needs tie-ins, motion, flow, and connectivity to hold all parts together.  Often a pond is placed in the middle of a yard because there is no other place for it or beside the house to see it easier.  These are reasonable but there should to be a connection with other parts of the garden also.   Sometimes a path can be created to it or beside it.  Strategically placed flowerbeds beside the pond can create a complete garden island.  ‘Strategically’ is important because the overall design should be easy to mow around if there is grass near the pond or flowerbed.  Ami describes two types of gardens.  One is ‘slow’ and the other is fast.  She recommends a ‘slow’ garden between the house and pond.  A ‘slow’ garden often contains many one or two plants of many varieties.  They entice you to slow down and look at each.  They often require individual care, such as deadheading, that encourages their growth.  A ‘fast’ garden is a large plot of massed bright color providing a background.  Avoid sharp edges around all garden edges because they are difficult to mow.

Height or 3-D gardening near a water garden is also important.  Most water gardens are flat.  Another dimension is usually needed to make it more interesting and provide a visual stopping point near the pond.  A tree, trellis, or arbor will provide this.  Trellises and arbors also make it possible to add other kinds of plants and scents to the area.  One of the perks of these features is the shade they provide during summer for you and the fish. 

‘Ring around the water garden’ is an oft heard comment.  Rocks protect and hide the liner but rocks do not surround natural ponds.  The trick is to observe nature use these observations to lessen the effect of the rock.  Observe plants that can provide a bridge between what is growing in the pond and outside it.  Some of these are cattails and sedges that grow at the edge of natural ponds.  Ami proposes removing some of the rocks around the edge.  Backfill with gravel then plant Creeping Jenny on both sides of the liner.  Other plants that can be used on both sides are iris, mosses, corkscrew and other rushes, many houseplants (often tropical), and cuttings of many other plants that can be rooted in water.  The liner will disappear in about a year.  All cannas can be acclimated to grow in water.  (If purchased growing in potting soil, repot in dirt before putting in pond.  Place pot in a saucer of water for a couple of weeks, then in a bucket of water for another couple of weeks before putting in pond.)  Plant some on both sides of the liner and soon foliage will hide the liner.  Calla lilies will grow in or out of water.  Small evergreens planted outside the pond also provide a nice effect throughout the year.

Architectural plants have texture, structure, form, and shape throughout the year.  Leaves are important through the growing season even after flowers have finished blooming.  Flowers are important but usually fleeting.  Gardens need design stability through the use of these elements.

Fragrant plants are especially effective around a water garden.  The moist air intensifies the scent.   Other suggestions for flowers are a combination of yellow daylilies and catmint; Asiatic lilies, peonies, and Walker’s Low Catmint; Lamb’s ear with verbena or cranesbill geranium.  White impatiens with green and white caladiums are good in a shady area.  Variegated iris and clematis are also good beside a water garden.

Before starting a water garden, it is a good idea to get as many ideas as possible.  Going on garden tours and taking pictures lets you re-examine what you have seen.  Select and combine ideas you like from a variety of locations.  Also visit Powell Gardens for planting ideas and to see how plants are used there.  Also take some classes.