Fishless Falls.

Many of our clients enjoy the sounds of water trickling over rocks and gently splashing into the water below. In most cases the client would like to see a natural rock fall or stones of some kind, but they do not always want the up-keep of a fish pond.

"Fishless ponds" are a wonderful addition to any landscape. They offer both aesthetic value, with a natural look that blends well, and the comforting sounds of water to help drown out the noise of the rest of the world.

They do not require biological filtration or the skimmer and basket. Not to mention that large pre-fabricated waterfall. "Fishless ponds" are the ultimate CUSTOM waterfeature.

Courtyard Creation.

It is not often that we recieve plans for a full courtyard like this one. Needless to say, we are pleased with the results of this project; as are the clients.

Even with the complexity of this project, the construction ran very smoothly.

Though in these photos it maybe be difficult to see, there are 12"X12" red tile pavers mortared on a concrete base and the arbors have been custom painted to match the house. The fountain has been hardwired to a switch located near the back door, making it easy to switch on as you lead guests outside.

Landscaping the "Industry"

In 2004 Andy Gagnon was honored to bid on the CLCA (California Landscape Contractors Assoc.) Headquarters project. We were awarded the job and had a good time building this project.

This project consisted of nearly all the aspects of landscaping; irrigation, drainage, planting, stone work, waterfeature, and a "Dry creek bed".

Landscaping the "Industry"

Practically Paradise.

Most of us would love to live in a tropical paradise – not many of us ever will. So why not create it in the backyard? This project was a great landscape and pool combination. The spa also doubles as a waterfeature, spilling over gently into the water below. It may be hard to see, but the spa is set just opposite of the entry steps. And because they share the same outward curvature, this pool has taken on a very classical clean look.
The beautiful pergola covered walkway leads from the house to pool and the use of large palms really pulled it all together.

Tiny Treasure.

Yes, good things can come in small packages. This frontyard was very small and on one side it was 90% shaded. (top-left photo). But with careful planning it turned out great.
We'll start with the narrow driveway: On each side of the already curved driveway, we installed five foot wide "extensions" made of pavers.
On the shady side, beneathe the Redwood tree, we placed a row of Three-Rivers boulders to contain the raised soil level. Given the small space, we made sure that the boulders were not too big and did not look out of place proportionately to the landscape.

On the left side of the driveway, (bottom-left photo) we planted an assortment of low growing shrubs and groundcovers to fill the space without overwhelming the space.
Throughout the entire frontyard we placed only a few copper path lights. "Saguaro Petite" is a 12" high copper pathlight that gently illuminates an area about six feet in diameter. It is perfect next to entry walks and placed a few feet away from a driveway. And because they are copper, over time they will start to patina to a lovely moss-green.

Essential Escape:

Who would need to know a world exists outside of this backyard? A classic, painted aluminum patio cover over a Quartzite faced barbeque island, two separate lawn areas flanking a curvaceous swimming pool, and a soft mediterranean-tropic landscape.

El Dorado Bluestone" is simular to Quartzite, except the Bluestone takes on more of a greyish-blue cast rather than silver. Shown is a curving row of El Dorado Bluestone boulders breaking up the landscaping. We used these boulders throughout the entire project for both the pool and landscaping.
We have placed El Dorado Bluestone flagstone footpaths discretely throughout the planting areas and near the patio. This way, one can easily access many points within the yard without disturbing the plant material and all while maintaining product consistancy.

Planting these large Bananas here was essential for their survival. They need protection from heavy winds and from frost. Planting tender plants near the house or in alcoves is the best way to reduce the risk of killing them and also reduce the time you spend covering frost-sensitive plants.

Wonderful Wire.

Would you have guessed that this neat little screen was made of concrete wire and re-bar? That's right! Good ol' #4 re-bar is used as verticle support, and then 6x6x10 welded wire mesh (used mostly as concrete reinforcement) is tied with thin wire to each re-bar post. The effect is a charming compilation of both a rustic and contemporary design. Add a bit of curve to soften the look, and let the wire and re-bar rust over. Even something this simple can add a good deal of color and texture to your sucessful landscape.
A pleasant surprise and very cost effective.

Distinctively Divided.

This fence, though hard to see, was custom designed by the homeowners and is used to support the grape vines and act as a divider between the pool and the landscaping. The iron fence was finished to look as though it has been outside for years, slowly rusting and taking on that wonderful greenish patina. Reminiscent of a Napa vineyard.

The Artistry of Asia.

With an Asian-inspired design, this peaceful Tea House provides hours of tranquil relaxation. Soild Construction Heart redwood makes the perfect outdoor building material beacuse of its color and its resilience against the elements.

What make this particular design unique is the attention to detail. Each piece of lumber has been protected with a clear stain to maintain the natural brillant color of the wood. And if you look closely you will see thin copper pipes running vertically within the grooved corners of each post. In time those copper pipes with patina to a bright mossy green color, bringing out the rustic charm of this structure.

Having it all.

A truly wonderous placed to escape. A *Three-Rivers flagstone patio and pool deck, a swimming pool, a redwood patio cover, a portable spa with a redwood arbor to match the patio cover, and a little wooden bridge to get to your spa. (Photo below)

Isn't this what we all picture? A quaint little stream bed with a small wooden bridge, a hot, bubbly spa to relax away the day...ahhh.
Saunter from your back door to your favorite swing (bottom photo), then make your way over to the warmth of the spa with that special someone, then cool off with some friends in the pool and barbeque the whole night through. Did I mention that if you get hot, you can just turn on the over-head outdoor ceiling fan?

Cozy Cottage Garden

From the back door (not shown) this backyard opens wide into a beautifully green lawn surrounded completely with plantlife. Even walking along the side yard (bottom-left photo) on the flagstone path you can easily forget that you're not in a fairytail.

Just beyond the lawn is a quaint little flagstone seating area. (middle-left photo) From the back patio you can walk across the large random shape *Three-Rivers flagstones set in the lawn, to the circular flagstone patio.

This yard was designed with family in mind; large dogs can romp with the children amidst the large sod lawn. and guests can enjoy the birds, butterflies and bees that this lovely, fragrant landscape attract.

*Three-Rivers stone is a rich, earthy blend of bowns, tans, reds, yellows and oranges that create a wonderfully natural look.

Wonderful Wire.

Would you have guessed that this neat little screen was made of concrete wire and re-bar? That's right! Good ol' #4 re-bar is used as verticle support, and then 6x6x10 welded wire mesh (used mostly as concrete reinforcement) is tied with thin wire to each re-bar post. The effect is a charming compilation of both a rustic and contemporary design. Add a bit of curve to soften the look, and let the wire and re-bar rust over. Even something this simple can add a good deal of color and texture to your sucessful landscape.
A pleasant surprise and very cost effective.

Tasteful and Tidy.

Because this pool has a slide and a diving board it is important that parents can see every angle of the pool and are able to quickly and easily access it from all sides. Here, they can sit comfortably behind the pool without being splashed. Meanwhile, the stucco wall is containing lush greenery to soften the edges of the wall's stone cap and creating a more appealing backdrop for viewing the pool from the opposite side of the yard.