Aspen Valley Landscape Supply
The east side of this house already had an existing series of naturalistic streams and waterfalls circulating into a koi pond.
By Greg Schramer
Posted: December 29, 2005
The east side of this house already had an existing series of naturalistic streams and waterfalls circulating into a koi pond. On the west side of the property the clients needed another feature to solve a presistent problem.
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| The client needed a solution to the problem area, which was heavily shaded and poorly suited for plant material. |
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| The finished project livens the entry, while adding much-needed moisture to the environment with a pondless waterfall and stream. |
A steep front entry was heavily shaded by several large oak trees. The clients found it difficult to grow and cut grass and many other plants slowly died from the lack of water in the dry location.
The new water feature is a low-maintenance pondless waterfall that attracts attention and is frequently used by birds, which are visible from the dining room window. As you pull into the property from the south end, it appears that the house was placed in the middle of a hillside and over the streams.
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| Pondsweep’s Enless Cascade waterfall vaults were bolted together to create a custom pool. Holes were cut out to form custom falls from either end. |
The Endless Cascades waterfall vault from PondSweep comes uncut, which allowed us to create a custom 5-inch-wide horsetail-style waterfall out the front, where we had a steep drop and a second custom 8-inch-wide plunging waterfall facing toward the windows.
We bolted two vaults together to create a custom shape to the upper pool, and with the use of aquatic plants and natural stones, we acheived the appearance of a natural spring.
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| A large stone diverts water from the main falls into a shallow birdbath basin, visible from the house. |
Specifications:
Designer/installer: Greg Schramer, Pond and Lighting Specialist at Aspen Valley Landscape Supply, with assistance from employees at PondSweep Mfg. Co.
Contacts: Aspen Valley (847) 426-0072, PondSweep Mfg. Co. (866) 754-6766
Location: Elburn, Ill.
Dimensions: 35 feet long, 6 feet high
Volume: 450 gallons
Construction: The project used a 15-foot by 50-foot roll of Firestone PondGard liner, 2 tons of gravel, 7 tons of boulders, 10 cubic yards of top soil and took several days for the crew to complete.
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| The approach to the home was modified to receive a stone slab bridge, under which the stream will flow. |
Equipment: A SK700PRO PondSweep Skimmer houses the 3,000 gph pump that feeds two PondSweep Endless Cascades vaults that were bolted together to create a custom vault that accommodates two waterfalls and feeds a bubbling birdbath. A tee in the main line allows for a weeping wall and bubbling boulder. Lighting and a large stone slab bridge were also added.
Each issue, Water Garden News will showcase a noteworthy water feature. Featured submissions from designers/installers will receive a certificate of recognition and $250. To submit a water feature, please send multiple photos of the water feature, a brief description (about 100 words) about what makes the feature special and any challenges inherent in the design or installation of the feature, and a list of specifications, including designer’s name; location of pond; size and depth of water feature; equipment and accessories used in feature (liner, filters, pumps, etc.); number of hours to construct the pond; material costs or retail price of the pond; and other interesting features. We will try to return photos but we do not assume responsibility for submitted materials. Submissions will be featured solely at the editor’s discretion. Please send to: Water Garden News, Designer Showcase, 3 Burroughs, Irvine, Calif. 92618 or via e-mail at tbarthel@bowtieinc.com.
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| The horsetail waterfall merges with the stream coming from the small falls in the back of the Endless Cascades vault, creating a spectacular centerpiece for the finished project. |
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