I collected together a few photos of some of the more dramatic landscape features I could find to share with you.  As I was scanning through pictures of numerous projects, I came across photo after photo that represented, at least to me, the idea of client after

Northridge Outdoor Living Room with Fireplace

client who had decided that a particular new look was what they really wanted.  No one told them they couldn’t have what they wanted and it became our job to help make it a reality.  There is something refreshing in the idea that someone wants something and that person ends up getting what he or she wants.

Rock Waterfall

To me the beginning of a new year represents a chance to find some quiet moments here and there and take an undisturbed look into the future.  It kind of goes with the traditional idea of New Year’s resolutions.  I thought I would share this thought with all of our friends and clients (these are the same as far as we are concerned).

We also would like to thank you for all your wonderful support in the past and wish you a tremendous New Year.

LaCanada Patio

That is also the best time to enjoy outdoor living.  Of course, in Southern California, we have a much longer outdoor living window than most of the country. In fact, it is most of the year.

This is why we like doing what we do.  The totality of our job is to help people enjoy taking advantage of their outdoor environment.  Why read that book in the living room when you can sit in a chaise lounge on a shady patio.  Why listen to a television when you can listen to a waterfall and watch the hummingbirds (it is far more relaxing).  Why not have friends over and uncork a bottle of wine to enjoy around a fire

Simi Valley Waterfall

pit.

I think the modern age of computer screens is great, as far as it goes, but it is easy for it to go too far.  Two hours spent over dinner on the patio with some good friends can probably undo at least a week of office stress.

Rock Waterfall

A water feature, especially a natural sounding rock waterfall, tends to drown out these noises and replace them with a nearby, pleasing sound. That it also might be a reminder of a wonderful trip to Maui or Yosemite is a bonus.

A waterfall is a nice feature to have in the garden. Most of the waterfalls we have built lately have been of the “pond-less” type. They actually do a a pond, of sorts, but it is

Oak Park Fountian

underground. This avoids all the problems inherent with maintaining the water. Little or no algae grows since no sunlight hits the water when it is not moving. Most debris won’t get into the water. Add in an auto-fill device that keeps the water topped off and a timer to flip it on and off every day for you and we are talking nearly maintenance free, relaxing summer.

Northridge Custom Water Feature

There is something inherently relaxing about the sound of running water. It also tends to drown out the other noises such as distant traffic and it make the garden feel more like an isolated space. While we add actual waterfalls to many landscapes, and it is true that they probably have the most pleasing sound, we also have made a number of custom features which are unique in themselves. One of the pictures is of a wishing well style fountain in which an old hand pump, probably from early last century, was used to channel the recirculating water.

The other is a little more complicated. It involves five separate pumps, all of which are installed underground in a hidden pond. When the water flows out the top of each of the Basalt columns it appears to simply disappear into the

Thousand Oaks Unique Water Feature at Front Entrance

rocks which cover the ground. In actual fact,  a pond beneath the rocks, which is eight feet in diameter, collects the water and the pumps send it back up through the holes in the center of the stone columns.

These and other unique features are what tend to make garden environments special.

One of the more popular landscape features has become “pond-less” water features.  It seems that there are two main reasons to have a water feature.  The traditional pond, possibly with a waterfall attached, lends itself very nicely to some fish or turtles and can be a nice addition to a landscape as well.  It does, however, require some work to keep it in shape, and, while some people love fish swimming in their yard – not everyone fits into this category.

This brings up the other option.  If you are looking for the sound of falling water which not only tends to mask things like traffic noise but also lets you shut your eyes and feel pretty much like you are in a remote campground somewhere or maybe a tropical island.  And you can do it without the work of keeping up a pond.

We have been constructing quite a few waterfalls that fall in this category lately.  They do have a pond, actually, but it is an underground pond.  The water feature itself can be a waterfall with boulders that sounds like Niagara Falls (small version) or it can have a light trickle of water depending on the pump system used.  It can be water cascading off one or more statues, spilling out of a pot or maybe trickling down stone columns – or some other, completely custom, approach.  In all cases, the water falls into a layer of stones which lie over a sturdy grate and ends up underground where it is recycled up again.

Pondless Water Feathre

There are a number of advantages, all of which add up to little or no maintenance.  The sunlight doesn’t get to the water so there is very little trouble with algae growing.  On this type of waterfall, we always add an automatic fill system so the water in the underground pond always keeps itself topped off.  Except on very large pumps, the pump is usually in the water which keeps it cool and extends the life.  Normally, a timer system is installed so it re-circulates every day which helps keep the water fresh.

Instead of cleaning and maintenance, the client’s job becomes sitting on the patio with a tropical drink or cracking a window in the bedroom to let in the sound of a distant waterfall.

A few key questions that we ask ourselves when assess an area from a design

Thousand Oaks Water Feature

point;  is there a great view that shouldn’t be blocked, or some unpleasant view that would deserve some fast growing plants to get blocked in a hurry?  Is there unpleasant traffic noise that a water feature could help with?  If there is going to be much entertainment at all, should there be lighting,  subtle landscape lighting as well as one or more lampposts that could be turned on for area lighting?

Simi Valley Floating Patio with Lighting

Curves are generally noted by design experts to create a more relaxing atmosphere for the people enjoying the space.  The curves should flow together.  Think of the French curve,  that little plastic drawing guide attached to the protractor back in school.  Another type of curving is contouring with mounds of soil.  Again, this should flow naturally and not look like several anthills.

Those are a few of the elements that get the landscape design started in the right direction. You may see by the above questions that a lot can be done to enhance a property and show off its best features yet conceal those that are not so attractive or soothing. Of course all of this comes down to what is the homeowner’s opinion and goals for their property. Our motto is, “Have it done right the first time”.

For ponds and waterfalls, there are some pumps that are much more energy efficient than others.  The way to determine this is to compare the number of gallons per minute against the amperage required to run the pump.  Installing a timer is another option so you don’t forget to turn it off when you are not there to enjoy it.

Waterfall Design By Larsen Landscape

Waterfalls should be designed with the stonework so the sound is maximized without the need to have Niagara Falls pouring over the rocks.

Swimming pools are much more efficient with a variable speed pump system.  The idea here is to avoid having to run the pump at full speed for normal circulation needs.

Of course, the ultimate green approach to electricity is to install a solar collection system for all your electrical needs.  This goes way beyond just heating a swimming pool or a water heater and the technology is already available to turn sunlight into electricity.  You can even sell your unused power back to the utility company. Hopefully the ongoing research will get the cost of these systems into everyone’s price range soon.