Designing Waterscapes

Designing With Water, otherwise known as Waterscape Creations.

Water softens the environment and gently reflects its surroundings, including the sky, which can give a small space a feeling of grandeur. Running water soothes the psyche and dampens unwanted noise such as auto traffic.

Ideas for adding water to your outdoor space run from enormous backyard koi ponds carved with backhoes to simple birdbaths with running water. We designed  a miniature wildlife sanctuary, complete with a stream, waterfall and pond.

“We tried to make the water elements as visible as possible from the most heavily used areas of the house,”  “You could see the waterfall from the house, but you could also sit around the firepit or lie in a hammock in the yard and see it from an entirely different angle.” The idea, is to weave the water into the landscape, designing the elements in such a way that they complemented nature and adding arresting visuals and sounds to an already pleasant surrounding. We built four different stone formations where the family could cross the stream and used boulders to blend the surrounding paths into the natural environment.

The decision to place this water feature in the front yard  was because it tends to be where the family congregates now. Also, Birds, deer, and other wildlife regularly venture into the yard for viewing, drawn by the allure of fresh running water.

Remember that water elements in a yard generally require more maintenance. The pumps in ponds and fountains need regular inspection; still water might need occasional skimming and cleaning. If you’ve got a fish pond, you should install a bubbler to oxygenate the water during cold winters. Look for you pond supplies online for the best deals.