How to Make a Water Feature Interesting

When you're placing water features on your landscape, you will do well to employ concepts used in creating the intriguing man made Lake Harris at the Mirage Casino in Las Vegas. You don't have to go out to Las Vegas to see Lake Harris. You can search for 3356 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas on Google and then click on street view. Then take a virtual walk in a southerly direction along the sidewalk on the west side.
 
As you take the walk, you will notice that almost no section of the lake resembles another. I say almost because the landscapers have even employed the principle that sections of symmetry appearing in a random fashion (unpredictable predictability) add interest to a landscape. Lake Harris changes in  size, shape, and border on both the sides close to and far away from the pedestrians. In some places there are waterfalls that fed the lake, in others flat tropical like vegetation. On some borders there are trees, on others a small or large rock outcropping made of conjoined stone of unpredictable shapes and sizes. On one part of the far bank, there is a large uninhabited rain forest, with tropical ground cover,  bushes, and trees of various heights, shapes and species. The many waterfalls vary one from another, with falls that have three, four, five levels, or seven levels. There are narrow ribbon falls, horseshoe shaped falls that separate one section of the lake from another, and a wide semi circular falls, with intriguing rock outcroppings scattered in its lower five levels.

 When you're planning to install water features in your own backyard, consider adding variety to your lagoons, streams, and waterfalls, and their borders. You might also want to employ variety in the size shape, species, and height of your surrounding vegetation.

Resources: If you live in the Yorktown Heights, NY, Westchester County, or Putnam County area of New York State, call the Turf Barbers at 914 302 2469; 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; http://www.theturfbarbers.com for the tops in water feature landscaping and outdoor masonry.

Hardscaping Theory and Practice

Hardscaping relates to inanimate parts of the landscape, whereas softscaping refers to animate parts of the landscape, such as grass, plants, shrubs, and trees. Hardscape is inclusive of decks, patios, floors, stone or concrete paths, pillars, stone or concrete walls, stone or rock ornaments, and rock gardens. Masonry landscaping is like a subdivision of hardscaping, and is inclusive of traditional masonry projects such as walls, walkways, driveways, patios, and pavers. Some outdoor masonry projects land outside the scope of standard hardscaping and include outdoor fireplaces, brick ovens, and gas barbeques.

Hardscaping has been described as the structural frame of a natural landscape and proper application of hardscaping or masonry improves the natural look of a backyard. Aesthetically speaking,, lifeless hardscape makes the softscape more meaningful. Hardscape also serves a psychological purpose. It's presence in the garden serves as a touchstone for modern man, who lives surrounded by hardscape like objects.


Certain basic principles of design help explain the role hardscape plays in the garden.

1. Hardscape is intrinsically familiar to modern man and serves as a center on which he can focus his attention, while in the natural environment.
   
2. Hardscape features are simple whereas softscape features are complex.
   
3. Hardscape features are relatively permanent compared to softscape features, which change with the season.
   
4. Hardscape features are durable whereas softscape features are vulnerable.

Below are added some additional ideas about hardscaping.

Because hardscape contrasts so well with softscape, even one figure or feature may be effective. Sometimes hardscape serves as accentuation, such as hardscape figures in the landscape, whereas sometimes the hardscape is more about functionality. Functional hardscape requires attention to the details that will enhance its functionality. Hardscape features that appear to cleverly imitate nature may at times be especially attractive, for example, a water fall feature that is built on a slope. At times hardscape features can be designed to imitate nature, and this can be especially attractive, i.e. a waterfall feature built on a slope.

Proper application of these principles can aid the homeowner or professional gardener to introduce attractive hardscape additions to his landscape.

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Resource The Turf Barbers LLC; 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; 914 302 2469 Yorktown Heights, Landscapers