February - March, 2006

When the landlord of a high-rise in Brookline, Mass., was looking to give the courtyard area outside the main entrance of his office building a new look, he turned to MetroWest Water Garden Designs.

BEFORE: The client’s barren space, located outside of a busy office building lacked purpose or function.

AFTER: The client’s unique courtyard space and low-maintenance requirements needed creative thinking, which led to the installation of this 30-foot-long pondless waterfall feature.

Factoring in the low-maintenance needs of the client and high visibility of the entrance, we decided to create a 30-foot-long, winding pondless waterfall, which disappears into a 10- by 6-foot, rock-covered basin. Underwater lights were added along the stream and base to provide a nice impact for viewing at night. To top things off, we surrounded the stream with New England-hardy trees, shrubs and perennials, along with mulch and aquatic plants.

Tom Frost, in hat, surveys the site with his client to determine the special needs of the space.

The final result, achieved in just three days, is a stunning, beautiful cascading stream, featuring several waterfalls, which is the highlight of the neighborhood. Office workers frequently lunch by the stream’s edge, neighbors stop by on their daily walks and many newlyweds make it a point to stop by to take some of their wedding photos.

The construction phase of the project used several tons of fieldstone and riverbed gravel to create a naturalistic effect, enhanced by sheeting cascades of water.

Designer/Installer: Tom Frost, MetroWest Water Garden Designs

Contact: MetroWest Water Garden Designs, 269 South Main Street, Hopedale, Mass. 01747, phone: 508-916-1535, email: PondGuy@MetroWestWaterGardens.
com, website: www.MetroWestWaterGardens.com
Location: Brookline, Mass.

Dimensions: 30 feet long

Volume: 500 gallons

Construction: 6 tons of naturalized fieldstone, 3 tons of mixed Hudson River rock and riverbed gravel, 15 cubic yards of loam/top soil. The project took three days for a crew of two to complete.

Plants: Iris, rush and grasses were planted by the stream, along with USDA Zone 5 hardy trees, shrubs and perennials.

Pond Equipment: Aquascape Designs Pondless Components, including a 10- by 50-foot roll of EDPM liner and underlayment, 3000 gph Aquascape Designs pump, Signature Series BioFall, Pondless MicroSnorkle and Centipede, 10-watt underwater lighting installed inside stream and 2-inch flex PVC plumbing.