Design Notebook: June 2001

FIRST BASE. The view faced the neighbor’s garage, so a quick screen was a priority. The topography dropped off precipitously, so a substantial retaining wall was an essential starting point for the design. The retaining wall installation was subcontracted and presented some difficulty during the project, as the soil wasn’t packed in well behind the wall and there were settling problems. To solidify the structure, we rented a 3-ton packer and drove it over the soil. From there, we brought in more soil and leveled out the area.

The clients’ goal was to accent the architecture of the home and draw attention to a dramatic Palladian window. This space called for a strong focal point, which we planned for by creating a linear design with the double waterfall and reflecting pool directed toward the window.

MIRROR IMAGE. The space was limited, calling for a small, yet dramatic landscape with a formal garden and water features. After the retaining wall leveled space for the garden, privacy was created with a lattice screen. Trying to be budget conscious, we chose to add on to the existing lattice where necessary instead of starting from scratch. This was rather tricky because part of the lattice was rotten and had to be mended. When completed, this lattice structure formed the backdrop for the formal garden.

To create a strong focal point, we designed and installed a reflecting pool with a black bottom for a strong, mirror-like quality. This pool is symmetrical with the large Palladian window and adds to the formality of the space. The water originates at the back of the reflecting pool and cascades down two formal waterfalls facing the house. The waterfalls are lit with underwater lights for additional nighttime interest and the water feature is faced with Pennsylvania Blue Stone and Gray Crab Orchard Flagstone.

The pool was constructed of 45mm, heavy-gauge rubber lining to retain water in case cracks develop. This was a success – cracks that appeared after installation did not cause problems in the pool and were easily corrected. In addition, the waterfalls caused minimal water loss from splashing.

The biggest surprise? We added a handful of fantail goldfish and water plants for additional interest, and the fish ended up being the Segal’s favorite part of the landscape.

The landscape surrounding the water features includes large, 15-gallon Ligustrum for a backdrop and 100 1-gallon wintergreen boxwoods planted pot to pot to create the feel of a formal knot garden. Two large American boxwoods flank the reflecting pool. Our crews change the seasonal color in the middle of each quadrant four times annually for constant color, using Impatiens, Petunias, pansies and ornamental cabbage.