Last week I was in Quebec City for the annual symposium of the Garden Writers’ Association. I met many interesting people from across North America (and one or two from England and elsewhere) and saw some private gardens that had much to offer. I visited some public gardens, some I hadn’t seen for years, and one I’d never seen before. I’ll write about these gardens, the people I met and the things I learned in the weeks to come.
But for now, it’s back to the aqueduct and the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.
I think it is working! I think we have solved the myriad problems that plagued this project since the end of June. I can’t write this unequivocally, I hesitate even to think it, since I don’t want to jinx what now appears to be working well. But definitely water is flowing as it should.
The shrubs will eventually spread to cover the slope beyond the reflecting pond. I will prune the boxwoods into round balls: little green drops of water. |
My last post about The Aqueduct was a over a month ago, on July 22. Since then, we’ve proceeded systematically to check the source of each possible problem. For the second time we  dug around the small pond that feeds the aqueduct. We relined the sides with clay. That seemed to do the trick. So I breathed a sigh of relief and sat back to enjoy the view.
Too soon. The pond held water perfectly — until the water rose to the finished height. At that point, the pond began to leak again, with water finding a way down the hillside underground. So once again we removed the rocks and the newly planted grasses that surround that pond. This time we raised the ground level a few inches and brought the clay higher up the sides.
The aqueduct holding pond gets re-lined with clay. This is a very messy job. |
This is a very messy job, particularly when you are working with pure clay and not clay mixed with rocks. (Although that isn’t much fun either.)
Messy boots, caked with clay. |
We’ve had almost no rain in recent weeks so filling the pond took some time. After a few days, though, water began to flow. At first it was only a trickle.
Hooray! Water is flowing from one channel of the aqueduct into the next. Finally. |
The water falling into the basin pulsed, a heavier flow alternating with a drip, as if the water was mimicking the heartbeat of the earth. I didn’t know why the water pulsed. Was it caused by an unevenness in the steel channel? by the angle of the steel?
Then one night it rained, and the water flow increased, reducing friction. Suddenly, The Aqueduct was working! No pulsing, just water falling gently, as I had hoped.
Look closely and you’ll see water falling from the upper and the lower channels. |
There are minor issues to work out. The effect of the wind, for instance. The wind was blowing fairly hard when I took the photo below. When this happens, water is blown around. Not a problem, really, just something to be aware of. With more volume, though, when the water falls into the basin, it splashes back onto the wooden posts. This is not good — water on wooden posts means rotting wood. So in the weeks ahead, we’ll experiment, finding a visually pleasing way to direct the water away from the posts.
Water catches the wind as if falls from the aqueduct channel into the top basin. We need to stop it splashing backwards into the wooden posts. |
A sinkhole appeared in the top of the gabion wall. A few rocks and some dirt should correct this. I hope. |
The section of the rill at the top of the photo remains dry. We should be able to adjust this so that water flows over the entire length. |
Straight lines step up a steep hillside. |
The ornamental grass is sporobolus heterolopsis. It will change to a beautiful golden glow in the fall. |
I had doubts about the perovskia but am liking it more and more — particularly since it has been blooming for almost a month. |
The wooden planting boxes replace a railing and offer another spot to grow flowers and herbs. The wood will change to a soft grey as it weathers. |
I’ll begin to think about the final element of the project, re-designing the small pool where the rill ends.
The style of this pool no longer works with the clean, contemporary lines of the aqueduct. We may add a coping, maybe a seating platform. Ideas, anyone? |
But mostly, I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the aqueduct continues to flow. It’s been almost a week now without problems. Long may it last!
WOW! I am SO SO impressed! Congratulations! Looks quite gorgeous.
Thanks, Liz. I’m glad you like it. It’s been a whack of work, and more will follow — this fall, I hope, but maybe next spring. So keep tuned in!
I’m so glad it’s finally working! I’ve been enjoying your posts on this project and, in fact, all your writing so far. I have to admit to having stolen your idea for planting sedums on top of the gabions. I recently made a single gabion to act as a pillar at the end of a short retaining wall and I’d planned to custom-cast a concrete top for the gabion but, when I saw your use of the sedums, I was quite sold on the effect. –Emily
Emily, I’m delighted you planted sedums on top of the gabions. Sharing ideas and plants is a big part of what gardening is about. Happy also to know you are enjoying the blog — I enjoy writing it.
Amazing project – would love to see it. Water is such tricky stuff to work with and design for. And brilliant when it works like this. Fingers crossed you really have got it now.
Water is tricky, indeed. Your reflected hedges were a big inspiration for me. And yes, fingers are VERY tightly crossed. Now, if I can only decide how to treat the end pond. Ideas?
Beautiful. I love the combination of materials. With the rusting steel, how to you control the rust, so there is enough, but not destruction of the metal? I was wondering this about your nice deer fences, as well.
We don’t control the rust. In our climate, it will take a VERY long time for the metal to be effected. I don’t know how long, but many decades at least. So it’s not a problem.
So glad the water is flowing where you want it to flow!
Thanks, Amy. My fingers were cramped from being crossed but it’s been ten days now and all is well.
Seating over the pond could be great! I would be neat to see a sketch of what you have in mind.
And the Aqueduct is a really gorgeous addition and I love these photos! I love wild look of the perovskia, too.
wow I’ve been looking for a good modern aqueduct for some landscaping inspiration. This definitely gives me some great ideas! 🙂