More Than Just
A 'Pile of Rocks'!		  
 

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A large area was left for a planned waterfall when this swimming pool was installed.  We were called in to work up some ideas for a multi-level waterfall and landscaping to create a centerpiece for this pool area and to tie in to a very large patio area with knee walls and raised planting beds that was nearing completion.



After a lengthy meeting with the homeowners, we came away with a list of things that they wanted to see in the design and the rest was left to us.

We created a digital rendering of the proposed project and included a variety of design elements including a few deciduous trees as well as a generous amount of perennial and evergreen plant material in a wide variety of textures and colors.

The falls are almost dead-on match to the design except that the homeowners decided to forego the large trees, which ended up being a wise choice. The waterfall itself turned out to be even more interesting than the design indicated because the twists and turns of the cascade are more subtle than the design suggested.  It was also decided to use natural stone across the entire area rather than trying to share the space with the brick pool coping.

Details matter in all jobs, but particularly when marrying different materials together.  Since the natural stone coping alongside the waterfall was going to meet the edge of a segmental block retaining wall (left), it is necessary to make that transition as seamless as possible.

We did this by first selecting a boulder with a somewhat straight edge and then cutting the wall block to fit that edge.  The end result is that the stone looks like an extension of the wall.  Little details such as this may seem trivial, but are really necessary if a job is to have a finished and professional look.  Another part of finishing a job is to extend its theme throughout the rest of the area. 

The falls are quite interesting to watch. 
Water splashing and cascading in a variety of directions and from different heights creates a visual display that can't be taken in at a single glance.  The varying textures and colors of the rocks and the plants keep the eye moving and of course the calming and soothing  effect of the sound of falling water invites one to simply take a moment to sit down, relax and forget about the stresses of daily life for a while. 

Here's a closer look at a really nice job!

A poolside waterfall can be something truly unique and something that adds interest and excitement to a landscape.  Too often though, many poolside waterfalls end up looking like a "pile of rocks"  The difference between the two is who does the work!

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