A Selection of Brookside Landscape Designs

Project Showcases

Natural Ecosystem Pond

When you think about transforming your backyard, a water feature might not be the first thing that comes to mind—but once you see the impact, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

For this project, the homeowner wanted more than just a beautiful pond—they envisioned a thriving ecosystem, a space where nature could flourish and wildlife of all kinds could find a home. We created a stunning eco-system pond, approximately 6’x8’ and 22” deep, with a 4-5 foot stream and waterfall to provide the soothing sound of flowing water.

Rather than filling the landscape with pre-selected plants, the homeowners took a hands-on approach, planting everything themselves to create a diverse habitat that would attract birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. The result? A backyard oasis that not only offers tranquility and beauty but also supports nature in the best way possible—a living, breathing ecosystem right outside their door.

Before

Before we began, the backyard had a simple setup—a plastic pre-formed pond, some loose flagstone, and plenty of open space. While it had potential, the homeowners wanted something more—a naturally flowing water feature that would create a thriving ecosystem and attract wildlife. With their vision in mind, we were excited to transform the space into a beautiful and serene backyard oasis.

During

Challenges

During the project, we encountered a few challenges, including:

  • Limited Machine Access: The side yards were too narrow to get even our smallest machine into the backyard, which means hand setting rocks and lots of wheelbarrowing
  • Not a lot of material storage room: We at Brookside run into this a lot, not every house has tons of room to just store bulk materials like topsoil, river rock, gravel, and granite boulders.

 

After

The finished backyard is now a serene and inviting space, centered around a naturally designed 6’x8’ ecosystem pond with a gentle stream and cascading waterfall. The once bare area now features thoughtfully placed natural flagstone, creating a cohesive and organic feel that blends seamlessly into the landscape.

With the homeowners personally selecting and planting all the vegetation, the space has become more than just a water feature—it’s a thriving habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. The transformation not only enhances the beauty of the yard but also creates a peaceful environment where nature can flourish.

Highlights

  • Beautiful ecosystem pond ready for the homeowner to plant and make their own
  • Tranquil sounds of running water
  • Built next to existing patio, meaning water feature can be sat next to and enjoyed easily

Price Range: $9500-$12,000