Garden Railways – August 2019

Filter

Pump

Pump reservoir

Fill valve or

float valve

Tubing

Power cord

to GFCI

Structure

Cobblestones

Aggregates

Screen

Rubber liner

Mortar

Flagstone

Boulders

Scale

plants

Spillway

Track

A deep “V”
below the bridge
contains the water
flow, preventing
hillside leaks.

GardenRailways.com 19

ANATOMY OF A WATER FEATURE

This drawing details the parts needed to contain water and

allow recirculation of a well-built water feature. Research and

consider what’s best for your time and energies. Unless you

want a professional to maintain it, “Keep it simple, but not too

simple,” per Albert Einstein. Learn more about each part of

this system online at GardenRailways.com/Fall

Boards and

rocks form

framework

over stock

tank.

Ric

k^ Jo

hn

so

n

1

23

WATER AT WORK

Water goes down to

“seek its own level.”

Hygroscopic tension

forces water sideways

when moisture follows

the underside of a spill

rock. Soil wicks water in

all directions by osmosis.

Splashing bounces up.

Water evaporates and

we wonder if the

reservoir is leaking.