Landscape Patterns With Stone Bridges

Waterfall

• Place the bridge near the base of a waterfall or series of rapids, so people can watch and listen to the water. If the bridge sits downhill from the most dramatic part of the waterfall, with a gentler series of rapids leading to the bridge, people will see the waterfall better whether they're on the bridge or not. Have the stream arc to one side at the base of the waterfall, placing the bridge near the end of the arc. A meandering stone pathway continuing through a series of wildflower beds fits nicely with the bridge.

Pool

• Use a bridge to divide the deep and shallow sections of a natural looking pool with rounded edges. Place the bridge just above the surface of the water. The stone of the bridge should match the stone surrounding the pool. Use large slabs of rock, flat but with some texture, stacked to create a series of very low steps. The bridge doesn't need to be perfectly straight; in fact, if it arcs slightly or the rocks span outward as the bridge meets the pool deck, the pool will look more natural. If you prefer, create a stone wall on each side of the bridge for people to hold onto as they cross. A border of lush trees, hedges and flowers on the back side of the pool will lend a sense of privacy to your retreat.

Island

• Create an island that people can only access from the bridge. Surround the island at least partly with a pond, with trees or shrubs on the other side if the pond doesn't completely surround the island space. On the island, create a small stone patio large enough for a table and chairs. Plant flowers and grasses around the edges as a border. Now you have a cozy nook to share food and conversation with family and friends.

Japanese Garden

• A Japanese garden often uses stepping stones in place of a bridge. Select round concrete stones and place them in a meandering pattern across the pond or stream. This style of placement invites people to walk slowly and enjoy their surroundings, as David Reed says in "The Art and Craft of Stonework." Take your time when placing the stones, using your intuition about where to place them, as this is a crucial element of designing a Japanese garden, he adds. Follow the Japanese garden theme in the surrounding landscape, with coarse ground cover or pine needles spread across segments of the garden.