When planning a landscape design, there are many things to consider — flowers, grasses, bushes, trees and statuary. But quite possibly a water feature is the most exciting, dramatic and rewarding option.
Where else do you find sound, movement, reflections and the opportunity to attract birds and butterflies in a new way? For one Sturgeon County resident taking part in the eighth annual Parade of Ponds on July 3 and 4, a fundraiser for Dogs With Wings, it’s almost as good as a country vacation.
“We enjoy sitting on our deck listening to the sound of water. It’s really relaxing,” says Audie Benson, adding his backyard waterfalls and streams create an overall effect reminiscent of a mountainous woodland in Jasper or Banff.
The St. Albert homebuilder and two neighbours are putting their peaceful backyard water destinations on display for the self-guided tour this weekend. Water Works Ponds, the tour organizer, built the three settings with a signature look that harmonizes horticulture and nature.
Serving as an outdoor focal point, the naturalistic waterfalls and streams are built on a gentle slope. The elevated waterfalls mimic nature. Sun-dappled sheets of water cascade along terraced rock and meander down a stream, ending in a pond or a gravel bog.
The rocks form natural perches and smooth river stones act as little bridges. Incorporated around the lip are irregular flagstones, cobblestone, small shrubs, perennials and ornamental grasses.
“We really tried to make the yard an extension of the home,” Benson adds.
Andrew Bell of Water Works says water gardens have spiked in popularity due to their multi-purpose features. Not only do they increase a property’s value, they create a soothing environment that works as a buffer to drown out noise and traffic.
“A lot of my clients find it therapeutic for sleeping at night. It’s like a babbling brook. They find solitude and solace in the cascading water,” he says.
For the tour, Bell has co-ordinated 41 water gardens located throughout the Capital region. Most are located on residential properties and about a dozen in commercial areas. Perhaps the most dramatic is the garden at Highlands Golf Course that showcases a rumbling 20-foot-wide waterfall with a nine-foot drop.
“We run 12,000 gallons of water an hour through it. It seems like a lot, but all water features use three times less water than maintaining grass.”
Equally stunning is the Jaenen family acreage with its 12-foot waterfall. It gushes into a 60-foot winding stream that ends in a huge limestone retaining wall. “It’s one of the stops with the ‘wow factor.’”
Another jaw-dropping retreat is the Nelson family’s country-styled residence. Three separate waterfalls with individual creeks, layered in fieldstone, granite and gravel, burble into a 20-foot by 35-foot pool. “The sheer size and landscaping looks like it’s natural and not man-made.”
Bell hopes garden enthusiasts support Dogs With Wings. “They train dogs to help children with autism and people with sight issues. They’re not well known, and not many people know it takes $17,000 to train one dog.”
The tour runs Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Hole’s Greenhouses & Gardens.
