Avant Garden summer 14
by Derek Fell
The Japanese consider three essentials for a beautiful garden‑evergreen trees, stone and water. They believe that at least three quarters of the plantings should be evergreen in order to have verdant color through winter months, and stone to be desirable because it can simulate rocky outcrops found in nature or symbolize a mountain environment, and water because it not only produces reflections to double the beauty of its surroundings, but also to provide musical sounds, such as splashing and gurgling.
I have never wanted to install a swimming pool at my home Cedaridge Farm because the Tohickon Creek forms a boundary with my property and it’s just a short hike to a deep swimming hole of crystal clear water and large flat boulders to provide easy access. But it occurred to me that a water feature could be a beautiful addition to my garden and perhaps add value to the property, so I roughed out a design for a pool with a waterfall and a stream with re-circulating water that passes through a filter. I contacted a reputable contractor who specialized in installing water gardens, and explained that the pool itself should be deep and wide enough to act as a plunge pool—not wide enough to swim laps, but large enough to float and with room to kick and churn the water.
It took a day to collect the boulders together, a day to excavate the hole, lay a waterproof rubber membrane and fill it with water, and a day to plant it, using eight people. I do not believe anything has given us more pleasure than our plunge pool. Even though it is not heated, it’s possible to swim in comfort from May until early September, with benches at strategically placed areas to provide beautiful views, enjoy sunbathing, listen to bird song or read.
To finish reading about Plunge Pools, turn to page 44 in the Summer 14 issue of Bucks County Magazine.