Norma listened intently and followed with her eyes, the various directions pointed out, but wondered what could be done.
“Now I am almost convinced that that creek finds its source somewhere in that bog. I believe that the spring we will discover there is not only the cause of that bog and the rank growth of weeds and briars, but it also furnishes the tiny stream of water that trickles past the barn. If this is so, Norma, then our hardest problem is already solved. In building a water garden the question of water supply is the greatest thing.
“One can run a pipe line from the house to any locality, and one can divert a nearby stream into a pool, and then lead its overflow away again, but that means a lot of work and expense. If we can find that the spring is located in, or near, this depression of ground, we not only have solved our difficulty of water supply, but we also have a natural pool formed by this slight hollow that is nicely graded all around to form the banks of our lake.”
“But, Jimmy, those roots will grow up again even if we cut off the tops of the weeds, and the bog will be horrid if it is underneath our pool,” was Norma’s disappointed reply.
“We’d have to get help and dig out the roots to prevent their decaying when under water. And we’d have to clear out the boggy ground and dig down until we struck solid earth again; then leave that for our basis to build on,” explained Mrs. James.
“Do you think Sam can do all of that? I know you and I could never accomplish it alone,” ventured Norma.
“I would have Mr. Ames go over the area and tell us what he thought of it. He can give us an idea of what it will cost to clear out the jungle, and clean up the bog from the bottom of the depression. If it does not cost too much, I think I will start the work at once.”
“It would be just wonderful if we could make our dreams of a water garden come true this year. I was afraid I would have to wait for next summer before I could try anything so elaborate,” sighed Norma delightedly.
“Now that we know where the creek starts, Norma, suppose we walk around by the road and climb the fence to get into the fringe of woods on the other side of this area. I’m curious to find out if this depression extends far across to the other boundary line of this farm. I only hope it does, for that will give us a wonderful expanse of water to plan for, and the spring can fill it just as easily as if it were a tiny little puddle. The height of the dam we will have to build at the far end of the depression, will be determined by the depth of the water we wish to have in the lake.”
“Oh, Jimmy! Will we have a real dam, too?” cried Norma.