3 Water Features to Pair With Your Pond in Cottage Grove and Middleton WI Areas

A pond can be one of the most delightful features of any landscape and one of the greatest sources of joy for young and old. While natural ponds have a delicate ecosystem and generally shouldn’t be altered, man-made ponds provide an excellent opportunity to create an enjoyable atmosphere that still blends with nature. Adding various features to a man-made pond can enhance the atmosphere whether you’re going for fun or relaxation. Here are three water features to pair with your pond in Cottage Grove and Middleton, WI areas.

Related: How a Pond Brings the Great Outdoors to Your Backyard in Middleton, WI

A Babbling Brook

A babbling brook has the pleasing aural and visual qualities that help attract wildlife and people alike as they relax in the ambiance (and who can resist building dams on a hot summer day?). 

A brook has another function: adding motion to your waterscape. Keeping water moving not only helps add vibrance to a man-made pond but actually pulls a few extra duties. An artificial creek (with a pump that circulates the water) helps prevent the propagation of mosquito larvae as well as preventing the formation of winter ice that can be dangerous for children and pets. 

First, landscaping professionals place pipes and pumps underground via excavation, then cover them with non-permeable layers of strong plastic that prevents water from seeping into the ground, avoiding expensive water loss. Then, the landscape is enhanced with gorgeous foliage and strategically-placed natural stones that add variance to the brook. It’s a fun and safe way for kids to play in a controlled environment. 

An Exciting Waterfall

Along the same lines as a babbling brook, a waterfall creates more excitement and increases the ambiance of your backyard sanctuary. Waterfalls can be the main focus of a landscape or even be a subtle backdrop that gently adds to a landscape’s aesthetic. They can also fit various designs depending on the landscape, home, or intended reference from somewhere in the world. This means that with some lush vegetation and specific natural stone choices, a waterfall can help transport you or your guests into another world. Since man-made brooks and waterfalls often go hand-in-hand in the wild, it’s worth combining them for a more naturalistic feel in your backyard.

Perhaps the most fun element of a waterfall is that you are in control of the quality of the sound. By strategically placing both rounded and flat stones, you can create sheer-drop waterfalls with a lot of presence; or, recreate the gentle burble of a mountain stream in late summer. And, unless the stones are mortared down, you can change them on a whim to suit your mood.

A Serene Fountain

Much like the babbling brook and the exciting waterfall, a serene fountain can produce the same calming sounds while adding immense visual quality. There are few senses of relaxing luxury more apparent than sitting near a gently-cascading fountain. Fountains may be placed near the center of the pond to draw focus to the wonder of the water spectacle, or as a tasteful accent near the edge of the pond. Fountains have been created for thousands of years by many different cultures. They are prominent landscape features in Italy and Japan. These countries in particular are famed for their gorgeous contributions to water features. Depending on your chosen aesthetic, there is a wide variety and complexity of fountains to choose from - from a classic cherub fountain to a dramatic water wall or even laminar jets that gracefully arc into the pond, not only to provide movement and interest but to aerate the pond water.

As you picture the features in this article, imagine all of the features as a total package – one that provides you and your loved ones’ endless relaxation and entertainment.

Related: Surround Your Pond in Monona, WI With the Following Features