Adding a water feature is not too complicated, and can be as beautiful as your imagination can make it.

Most of us love the idea of water in the garden. Water features bring motion, sound and light to our outdoor spaces, as well as attracting wildlife such as birds and butterflies.

Small water features are an easy way to introduce water, especially for the beginner. Something as simple as a water-filled glazed bowl, with blossoms or candles floating in it, will add a magical touch to porches and patios, especially in the evening hours. A small stone with a shallow depression hollowed in the top will collect rainwater and attract birds. Try setting one along a path, or tucked beneath some spring-flowering ornamental trees.

If you want to try something a little more complex, add the element of motion with a small pump. Place one in the bottom of a large pot with a waterproof liner, fill with water, then add a few simple water plants from a local nursery or home improvement store. The light trickling sound created as the water circulates is a delightful addition located outside a bedroom or kitchen window. Make sure you have a convenient outlet for plugging in the pump.

A Japanese shishi-odoshi, or deer scarer. The bamboo pipe fills with water, then tips to tap sharply on the rock, hopefully startling any lurking deer.

For those wishing something more permanent, a small installed water feature may be just the right focal point for a patio or intimate garden space. A millstone fountain, Japanese tsukubai, or a traditional lion head fountain are all possibilities. The basic construction for each of these follows a similar principle, as seen in the illustration. The water is pumped through a spout, which could be a decorative pot, a millstone, or a bamboo pipe, and then falls through rocks to a reservoir to be pumped again.

A little larger water basin can expand the possibilities…