New pond with older roots...

Every so often we dream of sitting around the pond on a warm summers day casting our fishing line and hoping of catching the "big one" with the crickets chirping and and the gentle warm breeze at our backs. Well, it just so happened that idea came to life with another client, they desired a place to sit, relax and enjoy the sound of water. Now all they needed was a water source and a spot on their 18 acre property to have this pond installed. Well, we found an area that had great clay soil to be compacted to hold the water, a natural spring fed water source underground and easy accessibility to create this dream!

We began by cutting and filling the area into the size and shape the client had wanted. As we began to dig we had more than enough clay soil to begin to create the dam. As the dam was being created we brought in a stone mason to accurately install a 10' x 8' spill way that included wings to hold back the volume of water within the pond. Our ideas was for it to be natural and fit into its surroundings so we included a stone source close to home, to bring in brown stone with blue stone caps. It turned out great!

Next, the client had dreams of including a small "shack" with a dock overlooking the pond, for the grand kids to sit and cast their fishing lines. The dream came to reality as we built a shack that took on a old style look, with mushroom boards for the siding, sheet metal from a 150 year old barn from the Chester County area and boulders to support the foundation of the dock itself. This shack truly is one-of-a-kind! To sit on the front porch(dock) and overlook the pond with the gentle sound of water flowing over the dam has got to be one of the most peaceful things I have heard in quite a while!

The client has even installed an outhouse within feet of the shack to give more of that country feel. Surrounding the pond are benches and planters made from 80 year old Ash as well as sections of split rail fence.

The plantings are just beginning to be installed....variegated Deodar Cedar, Hosta, Ferns, Fothergilla, Cutleaf Green Maple and Butterbar(Petasites japonica) have all ready been planted. The Butterbar is a unbelievably large tropical looking leaf plant that loves wet feet and spreads very fast in shady spots! Be careful of this guy, it will take over your garden quickly if not under control!

You've been inspired, now get out and dig!