View full sizeMyosotis scorpioides is a good early bloomer for a water bowl.If you're itching to dabble in water gardening, but not ready to spend a lot of time and money, start now with a water bowl on the deck or patio. Fill it with early bloomers and toughies, such as forget-me-nots (
Myosotis scorpioides
), monkey flower (
Mimulus
) and rushes (
Juncus
).
Later, when days average 70 degrees and nights remain above 50 degrees, a low-maintenance water bowl could include elephant's ear (
Colocasia
), sedge (
Carex
) and smaller papyrus (
Cyperus papyrus
). Such pots are portable and don't take up a lot of space or demand much care.
For fragrance, try lemon bacopa, aka lemon water hyssop (
Bacopa caroliniana
), an annual trailer with nice foliage and blue flowers. Put it in a container on a picnic table and bruise it lightly to release a pleasant scent.
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-- Homes & Gardens staff
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