Our preschool is currently trying to put together an interactive water feature for our playground. We want something that will recirculate water through the day, is 'child powered' (hand pumped), and can be dumped out at the end of the day (to comply with local laws). We want the water to be zero depth, but also forceful enough so the children can maneuver the water with sticks, rocks, pebbles, etc. A "dry river bed" idea, but with some water flow. We've had two landscaping companies come out to bid, but I am short on ideas as to how to make this work. Here are a few photos we showed them. Does anyone have ANY photos or ideas on how to make this work? We would LOVE your input! Something like this could work...if we could just get the water to recirculate during play & then dump out at the end of the day. This would be perfect, except California has a "no standing water" rule. Cute! Too deep for our purposes, but I love the way it looks like a real creek. I also love the little hand pump! This feature is at a local park in Pasadena. With the laws on "fall zones," I like that this feature wouldn't require the kids to climb on it. But then again, climbing through a river bed is half the fun!
A dry creek bed is a beautiful decorative garden feature. Additionally, a dry river is also a practical solution to garden runoff.
Oh my, below. A lot of stone, and effort. Wish I could have our stone mason, using the same stones, do his magic. Giving him total freedom, only saying, "Javier, this looks like a truck drove across the lawn pooping stone. Fix it, however you wish." Pic, above, here. Pic, above, here. Paying attention to neighborhoods closing in on a century of age it's easily apparent which type of stone channel performs best over time. I've seen variations on this stone water channel, below, for decades in the oldest of neighborhoods. All, still safely channeling the water away. Some used stone, some brick, some a mix of both. . Called to work at a historic home, the stone water channels were a pretty wabi sabi rabbit warren of pattern in the garden and at the base of the home. The new owner said they wanted to get rid of them. I asked if their extensive daylight basement stayed dry after heavy storms, "Yes.", was water ponding elsewhere in the garden, "No." They kept the stone channels. . Pic, above, here. . With new neighborhoods I've noticed what the first houses do in their landscape, the rest of the neighborhood tends to copy. . Garden & Be Well, XO T
Our kids have always loved exploring creeks and waterways. There is so much fun to be had at the creek! You can find all kinds of critters, stack stones, play with the flow of water, splash around and cool off on a hot Summer’s day. The list goes on! It’s always been a goal to […]
Here’s how to turn your water runoff system into an eye-catching accent for your landscape
The Outdoor Pikler from Pallets is an innovative and eco-friendly play structure designed to inspire imaginative and active play for children.
Our kids have always loved exploring creeks and waterways. There is so much fun to be had at the creek! You can find all kinds of critters, stack stones, play with the flow of water, splash around and cool off on a hot Summer’s day. The list goes on! It’s always been a goal to […]
The gardening experts at HGTV share beautiful ways to incorporate water fountains, koi ponds, waterfalls and more lush water features into your landscape design.
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Gardens, ponds & waterfalls are great backyard landscaping ideas. Naturescapes designs water gardens for clients in Chester, Montgomery & Delaware County.
Looking for some dry river bed landscaping ideas? We've got some inspiring ideas along with pictures and even instructions on how to DIY!
Current State of the Creek. Two stone bridges, rough mounds, boulders not yet in place. It took me three six-hour days to get this far, r...
Our kids have always loved exploring creeks and waterways. There is so much fun to be had at the creek! You can find all kinds of critters, stack stones, play with the flow of water, splash around and cool off on a hot Summer’s day. The list goes on! It’s always been a goal to […]
I collected rocks from the woods and bought the footbridge on line. I found the neat stork at Lowes. Yes, Lowes is my favorite store. I had the stone delivered…
Create an eye-catching, water-diverting dry creek bed for your yard and watch your drainage woes disappear.
Update: As you can see my children were quite small when we made this water blob. I have tried this years later with my bigger kids (aged 8 and 9) and they are just too big now for the water blob. This is better suited for either one child to play or toddlers to play-...Read More »
Water runoff can be a problem in your landscape, but you don't have to settle for a boring solution. You can create a realistic-looking dry creek bed with
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playscape design feature - water table
The backyard renovation has been our longest project to date...The Husband did almost all of this enormous makeover by himself! He only hired a Bobcat operator…
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Landscaping with river rock can create breathtaking backyards, gardens and patios. We present some of the top river rock landscaping ideas with these 130 photos. Read More
