Good Earth’s customers seem to have the greatest appreciation for water features, too. Whether they are seasoned fish hobbyists or experiencing their first water garden, Dan says people always seem to have positive stories about their pond or waterfall – about how calm and relaxed it makes them feel or how their grandkids just love playing in the stream.

“It is also so gratifying to see the reaction of the homeowners when we finish a project,” he adds. “We have literally seen people cry after turning the waterfall on for the first time because they cannot believe what they have in their yard!”

When designing a backyard, Good Earth’s philosophy is to start with the placement of the water feature first. They think of the water feature as the main accent, a focal point or gathering spot that is going to draw everyone’s attention. Hardscaping and landscaping are then designed around the rest of the feature to create a seamless, cohesive space that ties the space together.

“We frequently see missed opportunities to create much more enjoyable outdoor spaces,” he notes. “We have seen designs where the pond is in the back corner of the yard – away from the new patio and outdoor living space – or waterfalls that face the complete opposite direction from the main viewing angles. Many times, we can look at an existing space and create a plan where we can marry all the elements together to create a spot that’s going to maximize the impact, which will make the client appreciate the investment they made in their yard so much more!”