Tag: stone work

Fountain, landscape design, water features, stone work

Landscaping in Asheville: Inspiration

living waters landscaping

I spent some time today meditating in the woods with the original waterfall builder. I also had the time to create some balancing rock art.

I love sitting in the woods next to a waterfall. It is where I get the energy and inspiration to build water features.

I love the art of rock balancing also. It is a very temporary art, unlike the waterfalls and stone work we build to last a lifetime.

A balanced rock will be lucky to last a day. I love the fact that I can spend hours on balancing one rock. Carefully sitting in one place, feeling where the rock wants to sit, listening to the water flowing at my feet.

It can be very peaceful and lead you into a deep mediation, or it can stress you out if you let it.

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I love doing temporary art and art that is not paid for. There is a huge freedom in that. I love getting paid to build water features also, but art just for art is very freeing.

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Its amazing the connection we can have with our natural surroundings when we stop to look at them and feel them. Rock balancing can bring this out in you very quickly. Its a constant focus and feeling the rocks slightest movement. This can draw you into a meditation on the beauty of nature and creation unlike anything else.

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As I sat and pondered the beauty of the natural flowing creek, I was renewed in my mind, thankful for the work I have been blessed with.

Jacob

Living Waters Landscaping

828-301-8017

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Building a Fairy Home

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When designing a landscape it’s always good to stop and think about some options to make your garden unique.

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We built a series of dry stacked stone retaining walls for our client in Asheville recently. In the landscape design process we decided to add a really cool feature into the walls. A little fairy grotto was the idea. Our clients came up with the idea originally. I have seen similar ideas in other walls, but have yet had the opportunity to install one. We thought it was a great idea, for a small statue or maybe a spot for a candle to brighten the feature at night.

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So we made a space for the little fairy nooks (3 of them in the finished wall) and began building.  We installed some small stone arches that were dry laid into the wall, using only friction to hold them together and some wood support that we removed after we were done.

The stone arch is an ancient technique that I have yet to master.

The history of the arch dates back to ancient Italy where the Etruscan people built unimaginable stone arches as gates to the city. The Romans learned from them and perfected the craft.

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To bring a little bit of this ancient art into our modern landscape design brings me great joy.

I love dreaming of new and old techniques to install into the features we create for our clients.

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We will move forward, building and learning. Mastering techniques as the Romans did from the Etruscans.

Maybe one day in the future our children will pass on some pass on some skill to another generation to come, that will create a legacy of artistic craftsmanship for future builders.

 

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Asheville Landscaping: Dry Laid Patio 

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Asheville patio builders Happy first day of Spring everyone!

Our first accomplishment this Spring was to finish the dry laid patio we have been working on in Asheville. 

It was a beautiful day and the patio is done. 

Rumble Red brick edging with a tumbled Pennsylvania stone in the center. 

Flagstone patio The colors of this stone are amazing. And it contrasts well with the brick. 
We are happy with this project, and so are our clients. 

Give us a call for your patio project. 

We would love to help!

Living Waters Landscaping 

828-301-8017

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Asheville Landscaping: Flagstone Patio Update

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Flagstone patio Asheville We had kind of a slow week with truck maintenance and sourcing the right materials for our clients patio in Asheville.

Today we got the edging done for the patio. We specialize in dry laid patios like this one will be. However, we will occasionally mortar in the edging of a dry laid patio. This particular project will have a 3 ft brick skirt. With a tumbled Kentucky grey stone in the center.

The mortared edging for this feature will keep the dry laid brick and stone from eventually migrating outward. It is not always needed to have a mortared edge. A heavy stone edge or a plastic/ metal pre-fab edge would also work.

However, for this patio we decided that a mortared edge would be the best fit and the longest lasting edge. We tend to over-build our features a bit sometimes.

Asheville Landscaping: flagstone patio We also prepared the base material for the patio as you can see here. We use a 3/4 drain rock for the base with a screed of 3/8 crushed stone for leveling. This is not always a standard practice for ft laid patios. However, we have found it to be superior to the traditional sand and road bond installation. The gravel allows for a stronger and free draining base.
We also attempted to install this large stepper that will be the entry stone in the patio. However, at nearly 5pm on a Friday, we decided to wait for fresh Monday morning energy!
Check back for more updates.

Living Waters Landscaping

828-301-8017

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