It's an up-and-coming movement: tearing out tired old pools and lawns to make fascinating, dense--and sometimes edible--landscapes. Here, an unused and decrepit backyard pool was filled in and replaced by a koi pond with multiple rills and streams. 
An intimate fireplace patio and tumbling waterways along changes in elevation create separate rooms, with hidden walkways awaiting discovery. 
Beautiful gates add substance and mystery to the lushly planted entries. A sweet gum scatters golden stars about the scrap of remaining lawn in the fall, and successive waves of perennials enliven the seasons and feed the bees who live in two hives near the rear fence. 
Best news: although we worked with a previous owner years ago on this landscape, the current owner has agreed to let visitors in for this spring's Garden Conservancy tour. Mark your calendar for May 21--we'll see you there!
For more ideas about how to deal with a pool you no longer want, check out our new educational website at
http://greenpooldemolition.com/
