Almost done

Done except for some cleanup and the planting. Cool shadow.

Walls done, patio almost. You can see how I break the bluestone into smaller and smaller pieces to make the patio look like cracked porcelain. jc

Charleston pool

 A beautiful morning in Charleston. My spring cleanup. The Japanese maples are getting beautiful as they mature. jc

Another waterfall

Two views that I haven't posted of yet another little waterfall and gravel garden. jc

Another waterfall and patio

This isn't new work, but I noticed it wasn't posted. In one photo, the waterfall as it is being planted, and the other is a view from the top of the steps the next year. I like the tumbled bluestone patio. jc

Old falls

This is an old waterfall, but I don't think I have posted it. There is a small, red threadleaf maple at the right that has grown about six inches in ten years. jc
I just checked and I did post it. So here it is again.

One year's growth

I thought I had posted these together before, but perhaps not. This is a water project similar to the one just finished, one year later. jc

New Work in progress (part three)

Planted and mulched with some water plants. It has proportionally too much visible stone, but about a third of it will be hidden by plant material by next year, and more thereafter. Eventually you need to prune and trim to keep the plants from burying all the stone. You need to keep the hard/soft balance. jc

New Work in Progress

I'm going to post some photos of a project from almost beginning to almost end. I forgot to take a picture before I tore up the bank, but the first shot is after one day with the skidsteer. I had to move a holly, a spirea and one rhodo to be placed later. The second shot shows after the liner is in the bottom pool. I build a block structure -- you can see a bit of it in the top pool -- put a liner in and add a stone rim. The third shot is after I glued a second piece of liner to the first and ran it to the top. jc

Irises

Everyone should have one of these. It has completely naturalized. jc

Spring in Charleston, 2011

Spring cleanup in Charleston. The trees around the pool are forming a beautiful canopy, and we're getting a nice assortment of annuals and perennials there, finally. I've been pruning that maple for over ten years now, and it may be my favorite anywhere. jc

This year's stream

For some reason I didn't post this finished project. The patio is at the top of the stream. I like to think of the irregular bluestone as a pond that feeds the stream. The frogs found it early on and like to sit on the lily pads. Love that. jc

Pleasant Bay Falls

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Two waterfalls at Pleasant Bay Village that I haven't posted yet I don't think. Both at least ten years old. The one into the pool is the only return, as the old underground pipes were leaking. jc

New work with patio

Finished hardscape. The patio will need more stone dust watered in. Planting is next. jc

Progress shots of a new waterfall with stream. There will be a bluestone patio at the top. jc

new project

Finally got started on a new water feature. I'll show progress photos.
Had a nightmare with the wall. Mason decided his estimate was off by about, oh... 100%. Made me physically ill. Through goodness and generousity of owner it was resolved. I'm sure it will be nice, but now I just want it over. Will post photos if it also. jc

stream into pool

This is the second stream into the pool at the house in Charleston. I don't think I have posted it before. It is just off the master bedroom window. jc

House tour

These are images of work that I did at a private home in Chatham. It was on a garden tour several years ago. Click on the labels for more photos. jc

This is one of my favorite designs. The gravel driveway blends into the patio which ties into the front and side decks; and as I noted in an earlier post, I like the way the other house has become part of the composition. The waterfall is sort of a half a beehive so you can see it from both decks. The gardens are new here and still a bit spare. jc

Jonah's Falls, August

Jonah's Falls with my iphone. The image is not all that great. Sort of soft focus. Better on close-ups. Love the sunlight reflected in the sheet of water, and I feel the stone patio works as a continuation of the waterfall. jc

Just a pretty garden

A garden and waterfall I haven't posted before. Taken from the back deck of one of the cottages at PBV. Looks like one of mine, but for some reason I didn't include a circle.
I'm off to Minnesota for a week. The "one year" photos will be a couple of days late. jc