Need Suggestions/idea's for Inexpensive Reflection Pool...

I've not a clue about water gardens or even how to build one really. I would like to put a reflection pool in a garden bed. it need only be the approx diameter of a car tire. Any suggestion on how to build one for next to nothing. it will not house fish or plants, so i dont need anything fancy.

Idea's and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Good morning, i recognize the name from brugs ^_^ . Where are you planning to put this 'pool' ? My really cheap suggestion, 1 of those black round oil pans from the $ store (looks like a dish pan). They are about 6-9 inches deep, bury it to the rim and put shiny reflective stones(hobby lobby or michaels) in bottom. Would look great at night with a few votive candles floating in it. Good luck and post a pic when you get it set up. Liz

You live in fla, you may need something deeper that won't evaporate too fast. either dig out a bowl and line it with plastic to the desires shape(easiest) or go wit huvenia, you may want to drop a minnow or feeder from the dollar store in there to eat bugs.. if it is shaded in the summer.
-joe-

funny, i found a round dishpan about 6 inches deep at the $ store... painted it black, buried ot to ythe rim and put some black river rock in the bottom. its by no means a permanent fixture, but does lift out easily for cleaning and repainting...!!! so, great minds think alike...LOL thansk for the suggestions.. i may decide to go alot deeper with it, but wanna see how it all goes for now :)

You might want some water treatment to keep the mosquitoes out of it. Standing water breeds mosquitoes. Just something to think about. I've heard there are some mosquitoe disks you can drop in and it gets rid of them. Havent tried it. Maybe some frogs to eat them. I got a bunch of new babies hatched out and hopping around so tiny you barely see them. Want me to send you some?

lol.. got loads of frogs!!!

cue_chik, I wanted a similar "reflection pool" for a garden I was working on this spring. When I looked for something through various water garden suppliers everything was at least $50.00 or more! Found exactly what I was looking for at Tractor Supply in their livestock buckets and feeders, a 15 gallon oval stock tank and with their $5.00 coupon it only cost me $14.99. http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_28472_-1______14602%7C14604%7C28472?listingPage=true&Special=false The coupon is only good for purchases over $25.00 but I stocked up on treats for my dogs while I was there :) They have other sizes as well and you can't beat the price, they're heavy duty and should last for years! Looks like the closest TSC store for you is in St. Augustine :)

That is a really nice pool.
-joe-

Is the red flower real and what is it. That is so pretty and love the rocks all around. Crystal clear water. Great job.

Debbie that sure is a nice little pond at an even greater price! Are you and Rick having an open house in September?

Doug

rcn48 - thats exactly the look i am trying to achieve! thanks for the info, will look into it!

mekos, the red flower is a blossom from one of our Peonies. Unfortunately the dragonfly "dripping" fountain wasn't working and most people didn't even realize there was a pond there, so I picked one of the blossoms to float in it! The water is still clear but a little dark right now - a few "critters" have fallen in and I haven't had a chance to clean it out. Plus we have a new puppy who's decided it's an "easy" drink and she's doing a great job of trampling all the plants :( Hopefully by next spring she'll be trained properly to stay OUT OF THE GARDEN! LOL

cue_chik, glad I could help. I was thrilled to find mine after realizing how expensive the "real" preformed ponds were :)

Doug, we "missed" you in the spring! Did you ever make it to VA to visit your marine buddy? I'm pretty sure our Open House will be September 26 but I haven't had the opportunity to get it on the website yet. I'll shoot you a D-mail when I do :) I'm hoping the gardens will recover by then - we've been pruning and limbing up a lot of the trees in the landscape the last few weeks to open up the dense canopy. Some of the plants have taken a beating from the falling limbs and other gardens are taking a REAL beating from our dog playing with the new puppy!

Well, it's really nice. You did a good job.