Date: May 27, 2015 | Story: Tiffany Adams | Photography: Rett Peek | Producer: Chip Jones |
Serene and welcoming, a water feature can add interest and enjoyment to your backyard experience
The terrace at the Little Rock home of Rebecca and Don Ward is a true sensory experience. So, it’s no wonder it’s also the couple’s favorite spot. Initially inspired by a trip to Florence, Italy, where upon visiting an art gallery they fell in love with its wisteria-covered arbor entrance, the couple vowed to bring this same enchanting look to their own backyard.
Brian Arnold of Arkansas Landscape Systems helped the couple recreate the Italian vision on a scale suitable for their own backyard. Building an arbor for the wisteria made a natural area for a seating nook in the shade, which lead to other possibilities for how the two could enjoy the space. With a limited grass area, they decided to transform the remainder of the lawn with low-maintenance landscaping and hardscaping, including a large flowing pond with a waterfall feature. “The back terrace and the pond are their favorite places to unwind and relax,” Arnold says. Here, they can enjoy the tranquility of the running water, the graceful, carefree flow of the falls, and even dote on the four koi that inhabit the waters.
Four Reasons to Install a Water Feature
Outside of their beauty, ponds can solve for a number of garden dilemmas and provide a retreat from your home. Read on to see if a water feature might be a fit for your own backyard.
1/The Sensory Experience Just as the Wards enjoy the relaxing features of their pond, any water feature can become a sensory experience: hear the sounds of the flowing streams, see its elegant, fluid movement, and smell the fresh flora at the water’s edge.
2/The Low-Maintenance Lawn Option If you’re tired of mowing grass or caring for a large landscaped space, a pond and hardscape can be an option for maintaining beautiful curb appeal year-round with limited upkeep.
3/The Fish Habitat If you want pets that never need to be fed or walked, consider adding fish to your pond. Koi will grow to the size of a pond, meaning there are few space considerations to be made when building or selecting fish. What’s more, they form their own self-sufficient eco-system. “Each of the Wards’ four koi fish have their own unique personality and really bring them a lot of enjoyment,” Arnold notes.
4/The Natural Mix of Plants and Rocks While you may be keen on having a low-maintenance lawn, chances are you still want to see some green and a even a few blooms. The nooks created throughout the pond and alongside its edge allow for this and make the pond feel as though it’s naturally occurring rather than man-made. In addition to garden favorites, such as the colorful Japanese Maple and the lush wisteria on the arbor, you can also use aquatic plants like the pickerelweed seen spilling into the pond.
Design Resources
Landscaping Arkansas Landscape Systems, Little Rock, (501) 952-0034
