B4 and After Waterfall

15 years ago

Thought you might be interested. My first water feature.

This is right behind my house. The ground is much steeper than it looks in this picture. My goal was to create a waterfall that is as natural looking as possible. All of the rocks come from my property - mostly limestone - some granite. All moved by hand.

During construction: note the 3" diameter pipe. It is needed to keep the affect of 'head pressure' down. The waterfall drops close to 20 ft.

Just after turning on the pump. At the top, the width of the river is narrow, getting widder as it gets to the bottom. If you look close you will see an island at the top. At points it widens out into pools. This is a very common river format here in Ontario. I know - I paddle a lot of rivers - hence the handle Madtripper.

The flow of the water follows the natural contour of the hill, but it also stays away (as much as possible) from the existing sugar maples, so the digging did as little damage as possible.

"Expert Books" suggest not to place waterfalls and ponds under trees - but they look so much more natural there!

View from the bridge. The view from the bridge is the best view of the waterfall - that was quite unexpected - so much for great planning.

The bridge draws visitors to explore the garden more than if it were not there. Who can resist a bridge.

View showing the bridge. The garden around the waterfall will be shadded and a bit on the wild side. I designed the bridge to look rustic. I think it could be even more rustic.

Closeups:

I added a couple of old cedar logs with nicely sculptures roots (not visible in the picture). They make the scene look so much more natural.

The source of the water is completely hidden:

{{gwi:55125}}

It will not look finsihed and natural until the plants are in, and a few years pass.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

emtnest
15 years ago
WoW that is gorgeous, drop dead gorgeous!!!!!
gottagarden
15 years ago
Fabuolous! A truly natural looking waterfall is quite rare. Mostly I see volcanoes that erupt out of lawn, but by placing yours in a natural hillside it looks like it was always there. It's quite stunning and you should give yourself a big pat on the back.
Related Discussions
B4 + after- almost complete.
Q
Comments (3)
We have really enjoyed this project and now that the first heavy rain ( 4 inches in 24 hours ) of the season has fallen and the extensive drainage systems were put through the test , we feel good knowing that aesthetically and functionally this new landscape is working great. Previously the home owners lived with sandbags all winter long during the rains to ward off rising rain run off water that flooded the front yard. So this was a multi- functional installation. 1- address the dire drainage problem and 2. - create a pleasing sense of entry. The new front door, cedar shingles and arbor really works in harmony with the new stone work , giving this former plain plywood box a new craftsmans styled look.
...See More
Beginner hosta lover - new bed b4 & after
Q
Comments (42)
My guess for #1 is Lakeside Hoola Hoop. Its been on my list to buy so I've looked at a number of pictures. Now I'm going back to read the rest of this thread. (long one) Beverly OK now I read it. Nice house and plenty of room to garden. I like the front of your house, nicely landscaped. Good luck with the goutweed. It took me nearly 5 years to remove landscaping rock from around my house and I still have some under the yew in the front yard. However it was worth it and surprisingly satisfying. Removing the goutweed may be similarly satisfying. Happy digging Beverly This post was edited by BeverlyMN on Sat, Jun 15, 13 at 8:42
...See More
Doll High Chair B-4 and after
Q
Comments (14)
You did a wonderful painting job on that. It went from so so to fantastic! I'm sure she will really enjoy using it for a long time to come and when she's finished with it, you can just sit a big plant in it and use it for a decoration. Luvs
...See More
b4 n after
Q
Comments (13)
I have enjoyed looking at all of your hosta garden posts. Very inviting space now that you have worked on it. I now need a Seducer in my garden.
...See More
woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
15 years ago
I agree that the view from the bridge where you can see the pools is the nicest one. How's your back? - Moving all those rocks up a hill would not have been fun at times I'm sure... Are there paths leading up to the top? How is the rest of the hill planted? I bet you're awfully anxious for spring already! I hope you'll post more pictures as the area plantings mature.... Before and after views are so much fun to see - and 'after' extends years into the future so there's lots of room for more pictures :-)
harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
15 years ago
FANTASTIC! It looks so natural.

I would appreciate the new view of the original pictured area...
mjsee
15 years ago
Gorgeous. In 2000 we paid a landscape architect to design something similar. Never got built, because of the tech stock crash of 2001...but your work looks similar to the sketches he made for us. (I don't regret the planning...merely our inability to follow through!) Well DONE.
karinl
15 years ago
You certainly achieved both natural and beautiful. The bridge is a clever touch. Do you have to add water to it much? And the season being what it is, I take it you winterize, if so, how?

KarinL
rhodium
15 years ago
Yes, well done!! It looks like in the pix that you're waterfall path is coming down the ridgeline, which would be a groundwater divide... don't tell the hydro guys in the other post!! Place some larger boulders or rock outcroppings else where on the slope face to blend in the existing rocks.
madtripper
Original Author
15 years ago
Some answers to your questions:

Looking up at the bridge, there is a path going both left (sunny) and right (high shade). Given the range of light, and my tendency to collect plants, it will be a mixed planting.

My back is fine. You can actually move quite large rocks yourself. I find that one or two rolls, and then rest - keeps strain down on the back. It takes patience and some tools. I would not be without my pry bar, and dolly.

I actually don't add much water. The last couple of years have not been so dry.

I don't really winterize. I try to remove fallen leaves. Before the first good frost, I take the pump inside. The lower pond is almost 3 ft deep so the gold fish should survive. Done - Winterized.

I agree that some more large bolders in the garden would make it more natural looking. I am working on that. Most of the planting will end up being 1-2 ft tall, or more, so most bolders would be covered.

Since the stones are mostly limestone, they stay wet and I should be able to get moss growing on them. I'll be spraying with yogurt next summer to encourage this.
mjsee
15 years ago
The structure the stream bed provides will be a blessing to you as a plant collector. I find my stone walls give me the continuity that my plantings lack. They end up being the back bone for my "drifts of three..."

In my defense...I really am trying things out in my garden so I can be well-informed at my job. For instance...Dirr's new lantana 'Chapel Hill Yellow' is shaping up to be taller than advertised. "Low spreading habit of New Gold" my Aunt Fanny. It's first year in the ground it threw up "wild hairs" that were 3 feet+. We shall see how it performs next summer...if it does the same thing I'll be e-mailing Dr. Dirr!
Prettypetals_GA_7-8
15 years ago
Wow what a great job. Would love to see some more pictures during the process to show us exactly how you did it starting from the beginning. We would love to do something like this if possible. Thanks for sharing any more pictures you might have. Judy
madtripper
Original Author
15 years ago
I have posted more pictures in the gallery of this site.

http://www.japanesegardening.org

If you have specific questions, I will try to answer them. There is also a lot of info on the Water Gardening section of Garden Web
Prettypetals_GA_7-8
15 years ago
Thanks a bunch, I will go check it out. Judy