A blank backyard becomes a Rocky Mountain escape, one cascading stone at a time.

Story by Ann Butenas | Photos courtesy of Good Earth Water Gardens

Some backyards are designed to be looked at. This one was designed to be lived in.

When Mary Smith and her husband Gary came to Dan Stanza of Good Earth Water Gardens, they knew they wanted something. However, they just weren’t sure what. They’d had a pond at their previous home and wanted a water feature at their new Platte City build, but early ideas centered on something simple, like a fountain. After watching Good Earth’s videos online and visiting a few completed installations, their vision sharpened considerably. A fountain became a waterfall. A waterfall became something far more ambitious.

The inspiration? The majestic mountains of the Rockies.

“We’ve always enjoyed the scenery in Colorado and other areas where we’ve skied and vacationed,” Mary expressed. “We were looking for a waterfall that reminded us of those experiences, and we’ve always loved the sound of running water and how tranquil and relaxing it is.”

So, it was time for Good Earth to step in and work their magic.

“We take the water feature first, considering where it would look good, and then design everything around that,” said Stanza, who co-owns Good Earth Water Gardens with his brother, Kevin. Based in the Northland, the company has built its reputation on one specialty: outdoor living spaces centered around water.

What emerged from the on-site consultation was a dual split pondless waterfall system, with two falls at the top that merge into a meandering, multi-tiered stream cascading down to a reservoir below. A stone bridge bisects the feature, tying into a winding walkway that loops the entire landscape. A circular fire pit patio, enclosed by evergreen shrubs, anchors the lower level. And throughout, granite boulders rounded, multicolored, and unmistakably Rocky Mountain, set the tone. The Colorado aesthetic was deliberate.

“A lot of people say they want their water feature to feel like the Rockies,” Stanza explained. “They just love the look of the colorful granite.” The goal was to make the feature look as though it had always been there and as if the house had been built around a natural spring, not the other way around.

Trey’s Lawn and Landscape handled the surrounding plantings and hardscape, bringing in creeping Jenny for sweeps of chartreuse color and spreading rug junipers that will continue to fill in over time. Nighttime lighting extends the feature’s impact well beyond daylight hours, and careful attention was paid to sightlines from the couple’s screened-in porch, sunroom, and backyard-facing bedroom windows.

The transformation of what Mary describes as a “naked and unattractive” yard has been nothing short of remarkable.

“We couldn’t imagine how our backyard could be changed so drastically, or how beautiful it would turn out,” she said. “We were amazed when they hauled in the huge boulders and arranged them in a way that created such a natural-looking water feature.”

Today the couple spends much of their time on the screened porch, taking in the view and the sound of moving water. The fire pit patio has become a favorite retreat as well.

“We feel we have complete privacy there to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of the waterfall,” Mary reflected. Guests have taken notice too. “People are amazed that we have something like this in our backyard. They say it feels like being at a resort or a botanical garden.”

That reaction comes as no surprise to Stanza, who believes water is the one element that truly anchors an outdoor space.

“A beautiful patio or well-planted garden will catch your eye,” he emphasized, “but water holds your attention in a way nothing else does.”

In Platte City, it turns out, Colorado is only steps from the back door.