Above & Inset: Using the principles of feng shui, a 15'-wide backyard in Boise, Idaho was
finely crafted into an ornate Zen garden with a live stream and waterfall, a dry stream,
a raking garden and meditation areas. Rough boulders were selected to represent the
craggy cliffs where the ancestors live, and smooth boulders to encourage meditation.
Top, Right: The waterfall and stream were built with a Firestone liner, two 6800 GPH
pumps, a vault, a large catch basin, and 2" flex plumbing. There is also an inline 15-watt
UV light from Pond Pro to inhibit algae growth. Instead of a manufactured spillway, the
landscape team created their own invisible spring.
Middle, Right: After painstaking placement of the boulders to ensure a natural look, the
ones in the water feature were numbered and photographed, removed so the liner could
be installed, and then returned to their established places. The final step was covering
the streambed with river rock. A New Holland compact skid-steer and a Bobcat compact
excavator assisted in this process.
Right: Gravel and rubble make up the base of the dry streambed. The large bridge
across it is made from three slabs of sandstone supported from underneath and joined
with Gator polymer sand. The boulders in this bed symbolize secondary homes for the
family's ancestors.
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