First step, we laid out the outline for the waterfall with a garden hose.

More digging, adding sand and leveling the area for the wall.

Rusty started digging the grass out of the space.

It was hard work, and he replanted the grass in areas around the property.

Wall in place, water host covered & filled with garden soil.

The dirt has been generally shaped and stones placed where the falls will be.

It has amazed us how much garden soil it took to fill this! I think I went for about 4 pickup loads!

The grate is placed about where the retention basin will be buried.

We decided the wall needed to be a couple of levels higher and come around the sides a little more. Back to Home Depot for more bricks, and the Living Earth for more dirt.

Now some of the detail work begins... determining where the flow will be and starting to get the liner and stone banks in place.

You can see the tubing that will take the water to the top of the falls, where it will end at a gravel field which drains to the retention basin.

View from the top of the falls

See all those little stones on the banks? Rusty used landscaping foam and glued each one to the liner and each other.

Almost done with construction! The water is flowing.

The water makes a lovely sound.

The view from our office window

All complete! All the plantings are beneficial to birds and butterflies, most providing food.

The birds have even planted some of their own birdseed, so we now have red millet and sunflowers growing!

The view from the courtyard deck

This is our reward for the hard work... and the birds show their appreciation every day! :-)

The Waterfall

We envisioned this as a major part of our "bird sanctuary" front yard. Our major goals were to create these grounds with open spaces, water and food sources for birds and butterflies.

Running water is very attractive to birds, and although they have liked the bird bath we provided, they now use it mainly when the waterfall is full of competing bathers.

Most of the main attractions are right outside our office windows, or in sight of the courtyard. More plantings are planned. We're researching plants that are drought tolerant!

Duranta is great for butterflies and hummingbirds, and does well when times get a little dry.

Rusty & Sandi Paulus

Rusty & Sandi Paulus

The Waterfall Project

Rusty & Sandi Paulus

The Waterfall