CALIFON, NJ — A gently sloping lawn in Califon seemed the perfect place for a pool that would look like a natural body of water year-round yet allow for swimming, diving, water sports and wading in warm weather.

Ron Cording of Cording Landscape Design in Towaco set the pool beside an existing grove of maple and cedar trees that he extended with white birch trees. To balance this wooded setting and provide the homeowners and their guests with shade from the hot afternoon sun, he also planted large sugar maples on the opposite side of the pool. “When all the trees are lit at night,” he says, “it creates an incredibly serene setting.”

Additional landscaping includes rare Japanese maples planted throughout the garden and summer-flowering perennials and shrubs such as day lilies, black-eyed susans, hibiscus, spirea, shrub roses and more hydrangeas. Trees such as stewartia add summer interest, while spots that can be viewed from the house are planted with spring- blooming magnolia, cherry and styrax trees. Together with the white bark of the birches, the trees provide four-season interest.

Water World

The pool itself has a swim-in cave with one waterfall at its entrance and another one seen only from inside. Other fea- tures include streams the homeowners’ children can climb through and explore, a natural stone bridge and a spa that sits in one stream and can be converted to a water- fall when not in use.

The 600-square-foot shallow end of the pool is designed for playing water games and has a large wading area to swim onto or dangle feet into (though the dogs would argue it’s their own play area). A 10-foot-deep section
offers a quiet place to swim while games are played at the other end.

A dark plaster finish and the absence of conventional coping contribute to the natural look. Large slabs of bluestone form the patio and pool edge. Cording added a 3- to 4-inch bed of clean gravel beneath the bluestone with a drainage system so no water could accumulate, freeze and dislodge the stones in cold weather. The pool is winterized but not covered at season’s end so it fits into the surroundings.

The pool/entertainment area sits close to the home so the family can use the finished basement for bathroom and food prep needs without disturbing the natural look of the 14-acre property.

SOURCES: landscape design and installation, Cording Landscape Design in Towaco, NJ.

SUMMIT, NJ — The Board of Trustees of Reeves-Reed Arboretum recently announced the opening of the Wesson Family Nature Grove. Thanks to the generosity of the Bruce Wesson family, the area around the historic European Beech tree, more affectionately known as the Elephant Tree, has been transformed into an outdoor children’s classroom. The Beech tree has become the symbol for all of the Arboretum’s children’s education programs. The Wesson family, along with trustees, staff, members and friends of the Arboretum gathered on July 20 to dedicate this new educational space. Mayor Glatt was on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony, which was followed by a family picnic.

The design and rehabilitation of the area were provided by Cording Landscape Design of Towaco. Seating for storytelling and picnic tables were created out of natural stone. The area was replanted and paths were created to connect the nature grove to the fish pond which is highlighted by a whimsical hummingbird sculpture, designed by noted artist Adrienne Yorinks and fabricated by Dan Kalb. Lighting for the area was donated by Carney Electric of Summit. A viewing scope will be installed at the edge of the pond to allow children, and adults, to observe the many birds and butterflies that spend the summer in the wildlife habitat. Other funding for the project was received from Elissa and Michael O’Rourke for the sculpture and the NJ Committee of the Garden Club of America for plant material. L’Oreal, USA provided volunteer teams that did much of the labor.

“Children’s education is a major part of the Arboretum’s mission and the Elephant Tree creates a natural feeling of being in a room or a special secret space. It is a lovely and protected area ideal for children to learn about the natural world,” said Gayle Petty-Johnson, Arboretum Executive Director. “We truly appreciate this tremendous gift from the Wesson family and the many others who helped make the Nature Grove a reality.”

Reeves-Reed Arboretum is the only public garden and one of the largest green spaces in the City of Summit. It is the only arboretum in Union County. The Arboretum seeks to engage, educate and enrich its visitors so they may become better stewards of nature and the environment. This mission is achieved through the care and utilization of an historic estate and gardens. Reeves-Reed Arboretum is listed on both the National and New Jersey Historic Registries and has received funding from the New Jersey Historical Commission. For more information, please visit the website at reeves-reedarboretum.org.

MENDHAM — Set on sloping ground overlooking an apple orchard, this expansive Mendham backyard makes an enticing gathering spot for a large extended family. The spacious pool deck includes a shady area with furnishings set in a cozy conversation group, complete with an oversized umbrella and a unique fire-pit coffee table.

Leaf-shape chaises are scattered poolside for those who prefer reclining in the sun. The pool house eliminates the need to venture back to the main house. It was designed for comfort with a Caribbean flair, says interior designer Steven Fioravanti of Greenbaum Interiors, which furnished the space. “The homeowners wanted a relaxing, tropical, comfortable gathering space.” Indoor/outdoor fabrics make it no fuss, no muss. “You can sit on anything in wet bathing suits,” he adds. Aqua-blue walls match the pool, completing the tropical feel.

RESOURCES:
Interior designer: Steven Fioravanti, Greenbaum Interiors, Morristown; 973-425-5500. Pool-house architect: Bol Architecture, Berkeley Heights; 908-464-9100. Landscape architect: Ron Cording, Cording Landscape Design, Towaco; 973-263-5003.

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — “We call this area ‘the sunset terrace’ because it offers a beautiful view of the valley and the sunset,” says Ron Cording, owner of Cording Landscape Design in Towaco. Those stunning vistas come courtesy of the terrace’s prime location on the western side of the property, a former farm situated on 10 bucolic hilltop acres in Mendham’s Somerset Hills.

“It’s a really serene place in which to get away from the more active areas of the yard and relax at the end of the day,” says Cording. The property’s other outdoor features include a large pool and a separate spa area that the homeowners can reach via the winding walkway shown here, made of custom-cut bluestone slabs bordered by a bluestone wall. Along this path, a garden area boasts a profusion of sun-loving plant life, such as pink shrub roses, ornamental fountain grass, coreopsis and other colorful perennials.

The property’s other outdoor features include a large pool and a separate spa area that the home- owners can reach via the winding walkway shown here, made of custom-cut bluestone slabs bordered by a bluestone wall. Along this path, a garden area boasts a profusion of sun-loving plant life, such as pink shrub roses, ornamental fountain grass, coreopsis and other colorful perennials.