Water Gardens

A Japanese Garden

Colorado landscape architect and Buddhist monk Martin Mosko, weaves together water, earth, fire, wind and space into all of his garden designs. In a private garden in the foothills of the Rockies, he turned a 6,000-square-foot drainage ditch into a Japanese sanctuary. There are four mythical mountains--a dragon mountain, a tortoise mountain, snow lion mountain, phoenix mountain, and all structures are built around the most important element of the garden, the pond. More than 1,000 tons of rocks and boulders were trucked in from the local quarry.

Water is a fundamental element of Japanese gardens. Mosko applies it in several forms: the waterfall symbolizes human existence, the stream flows from the east to ensure good fortune, and the stone basin provides an opportunity for a ritual cleansing prior to entering the garden. The other elements--earth, fire, wind and space--are also represented.

A Koi Garden

In a Boca Raton water garden, koi are the central attraction. These brightly colored fish all have names, thanks to passionate fish enthusiasts Bob and Agnes McElroy.

"We call them our wet pets," says Agnes. "You have to treat them just like you would any other pet like a dog or a cat or a bird--there goes Spooky."

The pond is located in what was once the McElroys' front yard. "One of the nice things is that we have waterfront views from every room in the house. From our bedroom we have a wonderful view of the koi pond. When we get up in the morning and open the drapes, we see the fish swimming around, having a great time."

The water feature measures 35 feet across and 12 feet wide. The large pond is complemented by a small waterfall and two interconnected ponds. The elegant landscape, bordered by carefully placed rocks and stones, is lush with vibrant water lilies. More than 60 koi call this place home.

Tropical Paradise

A Caribbean vacation inspired this next garden. A little sand, a cascading waterfall and a tiki hut set the stage for a vacation at home. Bill and Nancy Baumgart of Clearwater, Florida, get to enjoy this tropical paradise every day.

Bill decided that a 22-foot-tall waterfall would be the perfect focal point for this garden. The "falling cloth" style waterfall is a manmade structure that took a team of eight people working around the clock for three months to create. The sound of the waterfall helps drown out some of the noise from a nearby highway. A sandy beach sits near the falls. The massive boulders aren't natural stone--they're made out of fiber-reinforced concrete.

While the waterfall and the beach are the sginature elements, the trees and plants give the garden its shape. More than 500 trees and cycads, 20 varieties of hibiscus and 10 types of plumaria provide this garden with structure and with color that changes through the seasons.