FINAL PHASE

FALL, 2003 - SPRING, 2005

The final phase of the development of the Coenosium Rock Garden was focused on the water feature along the east border of the garden.

This water feature is the most expensive part of the garden and was possible through the support of the Arboretum Foundation and the labor of the students as part of their educational program.

There was some preparation of the area in the Fall, 2003 with the application of the stream liner during the Spring, 2004. This liner was a special concrete mixture placed over a liner that is guaranteed not to crack for twenty years. It is a new formula from Australia. The owner of the company assisted in its application.

Fall, 2004, saw the placement of large rocks along and over the stream bed. Some were even set in the stream bed as well as in the collection pond at the end of the stream. Students had to place soil along the sides of the stream and rocks had to be mortared into place for proper water flow.

Spring, 2005, was a very busy time since the garden dedication was scheduled for June, 2005. A ditch had to be dug to bring electricity to the project and the pumps had to be installed. The garden was covered with a special gravel mulch and the walkways were covered with a crushed salt and pepper granite to match the large rocks used throughout the garden. Then the planting of another 120 conifers and assorted stream side plants had to be done plus the capstone to the whole project had to be engraved and put into its place of prominence.

 The ditch will be the starting point of our water feature.

 The heavy landscape fabric was installed over thick padding in preparation for the special cement stream bed.

 The fabric was used into the pond at the end of the water feature.

 The cement mixture was sprayed onto the fabric and smoothed by hand.

 Students did all of the work and the final product can be seen to the right.

 The rocks for the stream bed were mortered into place so the water would go where we wanted it to go. Upon completion, none of the cement mix was visible.

 Dirst, pebbles, leaves, and twigs were mortered into the sides of the stream bed to ensure a long-lasting, natural appearance.

 As always, students did the work. It was a great learning experience for everyone involved.

 The completed stream bed is now ready for the water.

 Even the bridge at the entrance to the garden was a single slab of rock.

 Students planted more of our donated conifers while the water was running in the stream.

 Skimmers and pumps were in operation in the pond and everything was ready for the dedication of the garden