Artful Gardens: July In San Miguel, A Season For Renovation And Reflection

By Rob Johnson

With the rains in full swing, the land around San Miguel de Allende comes alive. Gardens swell with green, the parched earth breathes deeply, and suddenly, there’s movement and growth everywhere. This is the month when everything feels possible —and it’s the perfect moment to take a closer look at your garden and ask: What could be better?

At Artful Gardens, July is when we encourage clients to rethink tired spaces. Like rearranging furniture inside your home, moving plants, introducing new shapes, or adding bursts of color can completely change the energy of your outdoor space. Even well-loved gardens can get stuck in a cycle of “good enough.” July’s abundant moisture gives us the freedom to reimagine, refresh, and experiment. This month, I’ve had the joy of working with a longtime client and neighbor on a full garden renovation, anchored by a new fountain and a thoughtfully designed natural-style koi pond. These kinds of projects are always a labor of love for me.

The Art of the Pond

I built my own koi pond 20 years ago, and it’s become a sacred part of my daily routine—morning coffee in hand, sitting quietly, watching the koi glide effortlessly through the water. There’s something deeply meditative about it. The sound of the water, the rhythm of the fish, the shifting light—it’s a living, breathing space.

My client and I wanted to create something similarly grounding, but with an updated design and a stronger connection to the surrounding landscape. This time, we’re building a pond that feels like it belongs to the earth itself—something that could’ve been discovered, not made.

There are two main approaches when constructing koi ponds: cement-based ponds and plastic membrane liner ponds. Each has its place depending on the site, the scale, and the intended lifespan of the project.

Cement ponds offer permanence and structure. They allow for sculpted shapes, shelves, and integrated plumbing with clean edges and minimal movement over time. For koi, which thrive in deeper, more stable environments, a well-built cement pond provides consistent depth, insulation from extreme temperatures, and a longer lifespan. It’s what I built for my own home—and what we’re doing here.

Plastic liner ponds, on the other hand, are flexible and cost-effective. They’re easier to install and can work well in smaller gardens or areas with limited access. But over time, liners can shift, wrinkle, or tear, especially with sharp stones or tree roots. They’re a great option for water gardens or decorative ponds but require more maintenance and often don’t offer the same longevity or visual integration into a natural landscape.

For this project, we’ve chosen poured concrete with steel reinforcement, shaped to mimic the irregular, organic forms of natural pools. Here’s how it’s coming together: A deep center basin at 3.4 feet, giving koi space to swim and stay cool in summer. A shelf around the perimeter, submerged just below waterline, where we’re placing large boulders to visually “anchor” the pond, an elevated spillway and filtration zone, which lifts all the valves and mechanical systems above water level, making maintenance simple and clean. A “beach” zone near the new sitting area, sloping gently from a patio of pea gravel down to the water's edge, layered with three sizes of river stone to look like it was always there. Around the pond: ferns, acanthus, and philodendrons, thriving in the filtered light beneath a mature mesquite, softening the stone and bringing movement and contrast. The goal is for the pond to feel like it has always been there—as if uncovered rather than constructed.

What the Bajío People Have Always Known

In July, the Bajío people—the original caretakers of this land—watched their crops awaken and knew the season of nourishment had begun. With the rains came not only water, but essential minerals and trace elements, released from the earth in ways that irrigation never could. For them, this was the true beginning of the growing season—when the land gave back.

Their deep respect for the rhythm of water, stone, and soil continues to inspire how we work today. In our projects, we honor that balance—not just what we build, but how and when we build it.

July is the month for depth, beauty, and transformation. Let’s dig in.

Whether you need help setting up irrigation, identifying pests, refreshing pots, or just want a seasonal garden update, Artful Gardens is here to bring beauty and balance to your outdoor (and indoor!) spaces. We specialize in thoughtful, low-water landscapes that thrive in San Miguel’s unique climate—and we always respect the land’s history while creating something new.

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