Homeowners who built an addition on their house wished to emphasize the front entrance, which the alterations had obscured. They asked McHale Landscape Design to construct a complementary landscape that would incorporate a water feature and aquatic life.

“We created a feature that includes two separate ponds, one indoors and one out,” says Steve McHale, who headed the project. “They’re designed to look like the water is flowing through the wall of the house.”

Perennials, including liriope, pulmonaria, astilbe, mazus, coral bell, fern and ajuga, enhance the water feature. “The ponds are the clients’ number-one hobby,” McHale relates. “They enjoy feeding and watching more than 30 koi that have thrived there over multiple generations.”

Design Features

• An irregular-shaped Pennsylvania flagstone front walk bridges the pond
• Stones are strategically placed around and across the pond in picturesque style
• Garden sculptures are part of the landscape
• The low evergreens and perennial plantings thrive in moist, shaded areas

McHale Landscape Design is a high-end residential design/build firm with landscape, masonry, construction and maintenance divisions. About 225 people work out of its five locations.

McHale Landscape Design, Inc.
6212 Leapley Road, Upper Marlboro Maryland 20772
301-599-8300 — mchalelandscape.com