The sound of water permeates the air in amazing ways. Its subtle but incredibly penetrating sound can cut through an amazingly competitive aural environment and make things far more placid simply by trickling along. In fact, water can literally be too darn loud. When I design a water feature, I always take into consideration the sound quality. How far is it from the house? How far do the falls drop? What volume of water do I need to actually make a little noise? From all these data I figure out where to place the cascade. Too close to the house and it can be irritating - people can literally have a hard time hearing one another, and I am being serious.

But a successful placement can give fabulous results. A quiet neighborhood, for example, means we can place a small bubble rock that gives a hint of water sounds. Putting a roaring falls at something of a distance can do the same thing, making a pleasant background for sleeping.

The sights and sounds of water in a landscape offer a dimension that takes another entire element into play in landscaping: hearing. The movement of water also provides a riveting focal point, visually, replicating Nature and some exotic mountainous region especially well. A small bubble rock feature by the entry of a home offers a peaceful first look at your home, relaxing your visitors and reminding them that their comfort is important to you.

Of all the more taming elements of nature, few are more relaxing or hypnotic than the sound of falling water. And visually, there are equally few things as compelling as the vista of some water falling over rocks, cleaning and polishing them and reaching its next level. The purely natural wonder of water can add so much more to a landscape than many of us even imagine.