Wisconsin Pond Build

[taherrmann4]

Herz,
Do you have an air compressor that you would use with a nail gun? If so go to Harbor freight and buy this(http://www.harborfre...sels-47868.html), they run them on sale for like $7. Then find yourself a rock and have at it. I have one and would give it a try but I don't have any decent rocks to try it on.

 

[sissy]

gosh never thought of that and got to go to Danville tomorrow so may look into it .I just got some great rocks when I went to Frying Pan creek that may be good to try it on .I got half my fence done and need to pick up more screws .

 

[herzausstahl]

Sissy,
I see what you were getting at now, but I think I would be afraid of cracking/destroying the rocks if I tried that. Mostly I was trying to find cool ones and hiding them prominently in the landscape for added interest. Its kind of an idea I think I got from when I was reading up on Japanese gardens. I was thinking of that style for awhile, read half a dozen books, learned a lot of the styles and rules, then learned that I wanted to just create a garden by my rules which is to say there really aren't any, I just kind of make it up as I go. Any time I make a plan I revise it so much that it usually never looks the same as when I started. But the idea I took was from Japanese Stroll Gardens, that there is always something hidden around the next bend, at any rate I got the idea from somewhere of hiding unique features in my gardens to capture the interest of the viewer as they examined the garden in closer detail. Also the idea that something can be viewed uniquely and differently from many vantage points throughout the garden. All of this lead to the paths, the unique stones placed throughout the landscape, the hidden stepping stones in front of my filter water falls, the idea that things will look different when viewed from the yard, the deck, or the pergola bench in the back of the garden. It kind of made it fun to plan, and I like the idea that everyone will notice something different about it. It would be nice drive for you Sissy! lol I would guess 14-15 hours or so. It took my brother and I about 13 1/2 a few years back when we went to Smokey Mountains National Park. If you do, just don't let anyone see you. We have plenty to go around and I have never seen any signs against rock picking (just flora and fauna), but I'm sure the park system here would frown upon it.

Tmann,
Thanks for that, I don't thin the rock planters might necessarily be for me, but it would be worth it to pick that up (especially since we now have a harbor freight in town) and try to make one for my mom who I think would love it! Let me know if you ever try it (Sissy, you too please)

 

[taherrmann4]

I really like to have rocks/boulders throughout the landscape, all we have here is flat rocks. So the last few years my wife and I have taken some mini road trips about 2.5 hours away to pick up some decent size boulders, the size that I can pick up and put in the bed of the truck. I am thinking it is time to take that run again. I had a few stepping stone trails throughout my landscape in the backyard but two of them became overgrown with plants and trees but they are still there can only find them in the winter. Like you stated you want people to walk the yard and get the different vantage points. When my wife and I were kayaking on the Ohio river several years ago we pulled over to the bank b/c I saw a bunch of old brick that was just thrown there from the top of the bank. Upon looking at them there were different names on them, so I picked up about 5 or 6 of them that all had different names, these were the old bricks that are much larger than todays and solid no holes. I threw them in my kayak and off we went the whole time my wife shaking her head asking what I was going to do with them. I had no idea at the time but they were neat, part of history somewhere. When I got home I had the idea to name each one of my trails with the bricks. I have a few extra that I just laid throughout the garden for people to see and ask why is that there, what does it mean, I tell them it is a conversation piece and ask what do you think it means. I get all sorts of answers is it the name of the tree, plant? Then I tell them that it is the name of the area of the garden. Thinking it is time to make that road trip again.

 

[sissy]

thats why I have chairs or benches or swings I built around my property gives you a place to sit and think and look at the view and get a little rest too .I like the unusual in landscaping gives you something to think about .Sometimes you just need it to rest your mind not just your body .I will be going on a rock hunt to find some interesting rocks to carve out and will stop at harbor freight to see if they have that thing .I have to find out when I can pick up my big rock at the stone yard also .I know they had a few waiting to be done and guessing it must take time to do the larger rocks they had there waiting .I am still thinking about getting one of there rock sinks for outside on my back deck and just add a hose from the faucet to it .They want a 100 dollars for the smaller ones and checked online and that seems to be a great price .

 

[HARO]

Todd; just a thought: around here I've noticed many cemetaries have the plot corners marked with bricks with the family name on them. John

 

[herzausstahl]

Tmann & Sissy,
You guys pretty much nailed my thoughts on it. I like the interesting stuff when you see it with the idea that you will find a place for it somewhere when you get home. And Sissy, I like the idea of tons of places to sit, so that you don't get stuck in the same part of the yard every day. We have the opposite here, mostly a lot of boulders/round rocks, very few flat field stones. Although they sell the flat ones everywhere and they could be in the fields around here, but no way to get them. I have 2 cousins who own active farms and was going to get rocks from them this summer, but I was too late they had already buried/gotten rid of the ones they pulled from their fields. I might have to hit them up this spring and just store them until I need them. Free is always better!

 

[sissy]

most of the rocks I have here are from the property and some of the flat rocks are from creeks around here and are free .I have a large creek that runs through the property across the street and there are some pretty ones down there .I like the search and find it is like christmas when I find a good one .I even take my hand truck with me incase they are big or hard to handle .Interesting what you find for free by just looking .

 

[herzausstahl]

Sissy,
That is what I look for first, thats how I got all my rocks. Some are very simple and some are amazing. I did buy my smaller stone, the river rock, but that was always $3 for a 5 gallon pail so well worth it. Driftwood is what I will be looking for now.

 

[sissy]

It's like a treasure hunt for crazy grown ups ,at least thats what my son calls it

 

[addy1]

saw some beautiful drift wood on the cruise, but for some reason they don't let you haul it back onto the boat.........lol

 

[sissy]

I could just see that story on the news woman on cruise ship hauls in driftwood to bring home LOL

 

[herzausstahl]

and too bad for you Addy that they scan your bags as you come back, you could have just tried telling them you bought it off of a local merchant! lol not sure they would buy that explanation though! been awhile since I've been on a cruise, but always enjoyed them.

 

[addy1]

I could just see that story on the news woman on cruise ship hauls in driftwood to bring home LOL

as they haul me off in hand cuffs.......lol

and too bad for you Addy that they scan your bags as you come back, you could have just tried telling them you bought it off of a local merchant! lol not sure they would buy that explanation though! been awhile since I've been on a cruise, but always enjoyed them.

It was too big to hide in a bag and get through the xray machines they have when you come back on board, darn it ...........

 

[sissy]

tell them it's a good luck charm you got ,addy .Tell them if they take it it will bring them bad luck and the only person it brings good luck is to the person it was given too .Say if you want to take the chance take it then and we will see what happens