There's a burble of water rushing over stones, a splash as it tumbles over a rock cliff. Sunlight glints off a small lake. A flash of silver, and a fish swims by.
Wilderness, northern Alberta?
No. Acreage, east of Edmonton.
As the project supervisor for water features at Burnco, Matt Zacharias has installed everything from a small streamless waterfall to a massive water feature, complete with beach.
If you want major excavation, huge boulders and a pump that moves 40,000 gallons per hour, Zacharius knows what to do.
But how big is too big?
"I recommend scaling the water feature to your yard size and lifestyle," he says. "I've done entire backyards that are just pond and waterfall. It depends on how much time you spend there, and what you want to do with it."
Things to consider: Some water features need to run 24 hours, others can be turned on and off. Will it be strictly decorative, or an active hobby? Do you want to stock it with fish and plants?
"These things take more maintenance," says Zacharius.
There are fibreglass, resin and even plastic forms that mimic rocks, streams or ponds, but don't get him started on fake water features.
"Do it right the first time," he says. "You're investing a lot of money in a water feature, and you want the rocks to look great and last long. I can give you a million-year warranty on real rocks."
Landscapers didn't recommend major water features as a do-it-yourself project for average homeowners. Moving rocks that can weigh up to 36,000 kilograms takes skill and special equipment.
"This is one project that can go sideways in a hurry," says Zacharius. "Get a professional to build it for you."
However, he cautions against hiring unqualified people. "All kinds of guys with a shovel and a wheelbarrow have begun calling themselves landscapers."
Ask for references, or ask to see a completed project.
Expect to invest a significant amount of cash in your backyard paradise.
In the $5,000 range, think of a pondless waterfall built for ambient sound and appearance, excellent for smaller gardens. For the larger garden, a multi-level stream will cost around $20,000.
After $20,000, landscapers can get creative with streams, ponds, waterfalls, even beaches.
New features you might want to consider for your water garden, especially if you're away a lot, would be a solar timer to turn the motor on, or remote controls hooked into home automation systems that can be operated from your iPhone or laptop from wherever you are.
Final advice?
Be sure you get a warranty, especially on the filter.
-- Canwest News Service
