Reflections Water Gardens, located in West Dundee, Illinois, recently received the 2026 Platinum Award from Landscape Illinois for its work on a project titled Puttin’ On the Ritz. This is the highest honor in the entry’s special features category. It follows a Gold Award the project received from the state industry association earlier this year. […]
Reflections Water Gardens Earns 2026 Platinum Award Read More »
How a Single Pond Sparked a Landmark Watercourse Project Our work at Halcyon, a retirement community located in Buderim, Queensland, Australia, began with something much smaller. Before any commercial discussions, before any plans for a 40-metre watercourse, came Ray’s Pond. We built this interactive, naturalistic water feature for a private residence within the growing over
Building Halcyon’s 40-meter Watercourse Read More »
As professional pond and waterfall designers and builders, we usually find ourselves working with a theme, such as a koi pond, backyard water garden, grotto waterfall, estate pond, etc. These types of features encourage tranquility, allow for the enjoyment of aquatic plants, or attract wildlife. So, what kind of questions will quickly pop into your
Adventure Pond: Where Wonder, Water, and Craft Collide Read More »
When the client first approached us, they had one dream: a recreational pond that felt less like a pool and more like a living, breathing aquatic retreat. Not just water in the backyard, but an experience: A backyard oasis like no other. They wanted a place to relax, recharge, and share a lifestyle built around
Vegas East: A Backyard Oasis Like No Other Read More »
Last year at this time, we were beginning construction on a massive grotto, waterfall and rain curtain in Palos Park, Illinois. While the winter started out mild, we work in the Chicago area. We knew what was coming. Some might shake their heads at starting such an ambitious build late in the season but at
Building a Waterfall Grotto in Winter Read More »
It wasn’t the first time we’d been encouraged to do a display at the Queensland Garden Show here in Nambour, Australia, but in earlier years, we couldn’t quite see ourselves taking on such an undertaking. Helping fellow landscapers bring their ideas and creativity to life in previous years displays was always fun and enjoyable, though
Lanthir Lamath: A Waterfall Inspired by Middle-earth Read More »
A single crystalline drop, shimmering in the sun, swells until gravity pulls it to the mossy pool below with a satisfying plunk. Water runs downhill. The thrum of a spring stream, flush with rain, moves over rocks, through roots and around boulders as it races along a course set by countless droplets before it. It
Waterfalls: The Art of Guiding Water Read More »
As the founder of Stonebridge Pond & Waterfall, I’m always thinking of ways to push the boundaries of design and craftsmanship and stretch my imagination beyond the ordinary. For this build, I combined a couple of thoughts I’ve been meditating on for several years. First, I’d thought about the dark, cool depth of water in
Natural Plunge Pool Pushes Design Boundaries Read More »
In the quaint city of Holland, Michigan, the team at Platinum Ponds & Landscaping embarked on an ambitious project aimed at creating a stunning and serene outdoor space for a homeowner. The centerpiece of this project is an impressive 20-by-30, 3-foot-deep koi pond. The pond enhances the aesthetic appeal of the yard, and serves as
Michigan Koi Pond Balances Functionality with Aesthetics Read More »
American Waterscapes builds naturalistic ponds and waterfalls in New Hampshire, where we have a super-short, cool season compared to southern regions. We also have considerably fewer sunlight hours. Because of our short season, we spend months each year working with other contractors building production ponds where you are in and out in a remarkably brief
Finding Inspiration in Iceland Read More »