The Project

Ever since our new house arrived on Sept 29, 2004, we have been working spring and summer to get the landscaping done. As our yard is a massive two lots for a total of 160 x 130, this is no small undertaking.






The summer of 2005 saw us just getting the basics in place - front steps and front deck.

The Back Deck so we didn't drop off into space out the back door.

Slowly we moved outward. Once the decks were done, we could tackle the contouring of the yard, moving the dirt from front to back and from back to front, creating lawn areas and rock garden areas, flower garden areas and the hot tub pad. Now I had plans for a pond from the very start. Given that we have very sandy soil, I spent my time while the Foreman worked on the back deck, digging a five foot hole in our back yard. That hole was carefully worked around through the whole summer of 2005 as the bobcat moved earth around our lot creating the final lay of the land.

Finally winter came and we could rest!

The spring and summer of 2006 saw three little boys moving next door. Inquisitive little boys who LOVE our yard. We looked at that five foot hole and thought of it filled with water and three little boys next door.

We began to fill in the hole!

By the winter of 2006, we had the basic outline of the pond - smaller and shallower but no less attractive.

By the time the snow had melted and the spring work began, the three little boys arrived in our yard, eager to help!

We began to rethink the 8" pond.

We decided to make it into a dry pond - after all, we have three dry creek beds running through our property - it only made sense to have a dry pond too. That way no little boys would fall prey to the watery attraction.

We laid out the tarp, strategically placed some of the multitude of rocks kindly hauled by our neighbour (the father of the three little boys) and pondered the shear size of the "dry pond"

We installed the water feature - safetly buried underground - away from little boys.

We filled the bottom of the gigantic black fabric with gravel - added more rocks and stones and placed the rock fountain on top of the below ground tub.

The beginnings of a bridge were laid in place

The Foreman pondered the job in his precise, practical, measure twice-cut once way.

Slowly but surely on a 30 degree Sunday in June, the project began to take shape.

The Foreman tested his work for weight bearing capability.

Three little boys visited, spied the new addition and promptly jumped off the bridge into the "pond" to check out the water feature.

Ah yes - a Dry Pond was definitely the Right Way to go.

And so the vision has come to be - albeit with a few minor alterations along to way as circumstances changed - it brings a feeling of completeness to the yard. All the major projects are finished, the decks are built, the gardens and paths are enclosed with landscape ties, the Arbour and the Hot Tub screen are built.

There is still lots to do, plants to plant, weeds to hoe and lawns to mow.

But for now, we can sit back with a feeling of accomplishment - listen to the water flow from deep underground up and over the rock placed on top while three little boys step from rock to rock through the pond.

The Project is Complete!