The bridge spans a naturalistic stream constructed on concrete and surrounded by native plants. Large rocks disappear into the surrounding ground but small broken pieces give the illusion of weathering and jostling by the power of water. Photo courtesy Anthony Archer-Wills

By Anthony Archer-Wills

“These rocks and pools have always been here, haven’t they?” “Surely you didn’t build this.” “This looks like the hand of nature.” These are comments every water shape designer loves to hear, but alas, all too often they do not. Many manmade water features are meant to appear natural; however, most are not that convincing.

Those looking to hone their skills should spend additional time walking through the countryside to study nature, while also observing other work completed by master water feature designers/builders. During this quest, many will find room for improvement and even adopt some new radical techniques to cost effectively reach higher standards.

Read the full article: Creating Picturesque, Natural-Like Backyard Water Features