Ok, I listened to you guys and hired a landscape architect. The good news: He said the two oaks I was worried about would probably be just fine. Suggested I get an arborist out to give them some sort of treatment just in case. He liked my crude self drawn hardscape plan and had a couple of great suggestions. He said the retaining wall isn't such a big deal. He said to save money, I should use Belgard type of pavers and stop obsessing over wall height and live with a step down or two. He said NOT to do my own waterfall because I'll mess it up. And he gave me a nice planting plan using most of my existing shrubs. The bad news is that he said "Those two oaks over THERE need to be removed before you do anything. They're dying. Cost: $1900. They didn't look so dead to me, but he told me if they are dead on top, they are going to be dead all the way down. What a shame because they are big and beautiful. I may post another question just about dying oaks...

racket...yep..after Tue, I'm fortunate for that. Was there supposed to be a link to your post above related to the 1725 rpm pumps...would be interested in seeing more about this technology if available. Thanks! mas985...yep...I had bypass valves installed on all our pumps for this very reason...fine tuning the desired flow. That being said, I have never had a reason to open any of the bypass valves since day 1. Now, after a deep freeze last winter, I don't have the option of bypassing any more...all the bypass line froze and broke! Never thought of opening them during freezing weather...duh! Haven't repaired them yet since they weren't being used anyway. Been meaning to ask...I saw in your TFP postings, that you have a 1/2 HP 2 speed pump....is this 1/2 HP at low speed or high speed...just curious as I didn't know 2 speed pumps were available this small. Thanks!

If you live in New York as suggested in your name, you might want to search on cliffandjoann. They built a stunningly beautiful pond and have explained the details. They say that some of their plants are in pots. I use impatiens and am under the impression that they will grow without much actual soil. It is certainly true for water cress (from the grocery store) anchored directly in flowing water. For something larger, sweet flag will certainly work. You can also use vines or other plants growing beside or near the area. You can also add logs or other natural materials for interest and coverage.

I don't see where your water fall would spill from, although I suppose it doesn't really matter. If it fell onto that outcrop, it would give extra sounds although it would probably spill out the back so I suppose the fall is elsewhere. you never actually said how big the existing pipes are, but if they are 3/4 inch galvanized pipe, for example; that was probably too small for a regular modern waterfall anyway. I'm not sure that any of us is an expert on algae. I have a long stream and a skippy filter. Look skippy filter up. I am quite certain that my stream is my major filter. I get string algae, but find it generally useful. It doesn't cloud up the water; it just looks green. In my case, it is mostly in the stream. I occasionally remove it with a toilet brush to snag it, or just grab it by hand. People with the pea soup algae try all sorts of things and sometimes they work, and sometimes not. We occasionally have a poster named waterbug_guy. He has done lengthy study and believes that string algae fights off the single cell (pea soup type) algae. But of course, you have to have some to fight the other type. I think that there is general agreement that the UV tube device will kill free flowing algae. I have heard that the uv bulb needs replacement every year or so. You don't really need a filter without fish. Again: I never had a problem so am not much help and many who do, don't always get things solved. If it were me, I would go one step at a time and get a pump and flex tubing. First, I would quickly pump all the water out and clean the bowl with something and see if you can dry it out while installing your plumbing and spillway or whatever. Then I would fill and run it; scrounge up a few plants (hooked on or supported on something, or find a neighbor or store with a water lily to toss in the bottom) and see if algae forms. If you get pea soup that doesn't go away in a month, then get a UV tube thingie and see if that does the trick. You could look up 'trickle tower' as a filter device. It is a fairly new idea that I know nothing about. But again, I think it is more for preventing build up of ammonia or nitrates that can come from fish waste. No fish, no problem, I suspect.