I assume you got just the basic site plan - layout of the property lines and the footprint of the house/structures within that framework. The next step is to identify any other large immovables (like trees, existing shrubs, driveways, etc.) that don't show up and mark them on the site plan. Check out 'triangulation measurements' to find out how to do this accurately. Then if the plat is to a scale that works for you, invest in a roll of tracing paper and try sketching in some bed layouts or other areas of landscaping interest (patios, terraces, walkways, ponds/pools, playground areas, etc.). Once you've got those configured the way you like, then you can start contemplating plant selection. Determine areas of sun or shade, need for privacy and any plant preferences and make selections accordingly - your local garden center can help you with works in your area. If the site plan is to too small a scale to work with comfortably, then you will need to enlarge to a more workable size. This gets slightly more complicated. This is just the very basic bare bones of how to approach what's next......it can get as complicated as you like from here :-)

Hello, Macattack! There's a certain sense of reciprocity to the design forum. To get one party started, one must first provide something. If this is in a query, some background information, initial thoughts, preferences, etc. etc. etc. can help get the ball rollin'. It's generally easier for people to respond to a specific question/request. However, I shall try to get things started by stating what I think about what you have. (This illustrates my previous point, as what people can provide with little information is what they personally think, which may or may not be applicable in your situation). One issue I find with most people's ponds is that they use rock along the edges. Actually, that is not the issue. The issue is that the rock seems out-of-place, so they add more rock. Eventually, lots of rock surrounds the pond and it seems even MORE out-of-place. Another issue I find common is that ponds are often put in for pond's sake, meaning that they often have little relation to the context in which they are placed. They're there so that the homeowner now has a pond, as opposed to them being there to form a part of a larger landscape. This supplements the first issue which I pointed out above. Last but not least (and this relates to both points), people often don't place waterfalls in the proper, topographical context. As in your case, the waterfall is built up on its own miniature hill which is very incongruous to the surrounding lay of the land. (They've been given other names on this forum, but we'll avoid that to maintain the civility). The stream runs down a nice slope, but the waterfall still seems a little abrupt. Ok, I've only offered criticism so far. However, this is to be constructive, and if you don't agree with any of my points, feel free to question my statements. That being said, I'll offer my suggestion. Look at the bigger picture. As I mentioned, it looks like you have a nice slope down your yard. It may be worth considering re-doing the waterfall/stream (and I do know that this is a lot of work) so that the waterfall "cuts into" the slope" as if it's been there for a millenia and has been eating its way through the hill. An alternative is to raise the landscaping up to match the waterfall by providing taller elements (either raising up the ground level, or by shrubs, etc) to conceal the fact that the waterfall has "sides" to it and to make it feel as if it's part of a larger slope/hill/thing, so it's less of an individual element standing out. How does the rest of the landscaping of the yard work? How can you apply that to the pond? Generally, I would say to bring up the vegetation as close to the edges of the pond to soften its starkness and to integrate it with the rest of the yard, but how you should do it depends on what the rest of the yard is like. One final comment/question: why the peastone/round river rock? The stone edging on the pond itself is very nicely done, and I think it would stand out more (in a good way!) without the contrasting river rock/peastone around it. Based on that, I would suggest that you try laying the flatter stone in the stream as opposed to lining it with the peastone/river rock. Your skill for arranging it is quite obvious, and I think it would be a lot more dramatic and natural-looking if you used the same stone for edging on the stream. Hopefully this helps get you thinking! -Audric

Hi Henrik! I have never posted in this forum due to fear of being prosicuted for not complying with the strict Japanese Gardening "rules". I have read 5 books on Japanese gardening and have read almost every article I can find on the internet and have concluded a 100% Japanese Garden was not obtainable for me. My garden is more of an Asian Fusion, Although Japanese gardens are quite beautiful they do have a limited scope especially for people that have Non traditional needs. I have two Labs Boomer and Lucky who both love the water :) (reason for building a pond!) I also wanted to have a yard with some grass (not typical of Japanese gardening), the stones I used in building my pond are field stones the books all say to use naturally occouring materials (as filed stones) but say to make sure the stones are smooth to encourage tranquility, the filed stones are not necessarly smooth yet breaking another "rule". Your questions and your post have been quite bennificial to me as I was in the same situation as you. I too have a pond (35feet x 27 feet around 9-10 thousand gallons) that had a "neclace" of rocks around the pond. For Christmas I got two large rocks (2500lbs and 800lbs). You can see in this picture the difference the rocks have made to the pond. I did have one fairly large rock already in place and now the three large rocks form a triangle as required by Japanese Landscape rules. [Click any image to make larger] Before Pictures After Pictures (today) 2500 lb rock 800lb rock I wish I could have gotten the rocks closer or even in the water but due to their weight it was hard enought getting them to the location they are in. Oh yea,.. before anyone yells at me about the "Torri" gate,.. its not a torri gate,.. does not have a center key. I do appreciate all the wonderful Japanese and Japanese inspired gardens I have found in this forum =) Don

You might find a lot of sites using Google, and " Botanical drawing Books ", or something similar. I found this book while doing that. If you click on " look inside another edition of this book" , you are able to view many pages. You may want to ask your local library to find any botanical drawing books through the interlibrary loan. That way you won't invest in something unless it's exactly what you want. Here is a link that might be useful: Botanical illustrations