Our client's childhood memories of summer fun in her parents' pool and family time on Long Beach Island, NJ is what she wanted to recreate for her own children in the comfort of their backyard. The client's wish list included a pool that was versatile for all ages and activities. We teamed up with Liquidscapes to assist with the pool design process to ensure functionality and quality was achieved. The saltwater pool has a swim lane, sun-shelf, deck jets, built-in seating and a raised spa with an 8' spillway! The pool deck is built with limestone, which remains cool in the hot sun. A custom pavilion cantilevers the deep end of the pool serving as a shady poolside lounge. The wavy garden beds were designed to complement the freeform shape of the pool. The landscape consists of multi-layered magnolias, ilex, and cryptomeria to ensure privacy year round. Fagus, lagerstroemia, and cotinus add in-season privacy, color, and contrast. The large garden beds are filled with lush hydrangeas, perennials, perennial grasses, and ferns. During our presentation for the front of the property, which is the final phase of this project, our client said to us: "Over the years we have dealt with many design and build companies and we're very happy we finally found one that is a pleasure to work with and cares about delivering high quality results.”

The garden isn't completely lawn-free. It hosts an IdealMow lawn of native Dune Sedge. It thrives with no chemical fertilizers or pesticides and uses only 20 percent of the water required by a turf grass lawn. A "smart" subsurface, hydrozoned drip irrigation system on weather based controllers delivers exactly what the hydrozoned foliage needs, right to its roots. This aids foliage health and eliminates water loss to evaporation. To keep its lawn-like appearance, the grass needs mowing only a few times a year. If left to grow, it forms true-green waves.