Lily ponds fringe the perfect party deck - includes related article on party deck details

Sunset, May, 1999 by Sharon Cohoon

A city gardener turns his backyard into a country escape

Marc LaFont is one entertaining guy. His idea of a good time is coming up with a party theme, executing it with theatrical style, and watching guests become enchanted by the spell he's created. So it's no coincidence that LaFont's backyard in Santa Ana, California, has evolved into the perfect setting for great parties. Arriving guests walk into a scene that could have been painted by Monet. A wood deck "floats" above ponds filled with water lilies, and a verdant tangle of shrubs and vines frames the picture.

LaFont knew what kind of mood he wanted to create in his backyard from the day he bought the property. "I wanted it to feel like a country escape, in England or France perhaps, and I wanted it to be suitable for all kinds of outdoor entertaining." LaFont's vision took form in stages.

The first was the rear deck, which was built to take advantage of the shade of a large avocado tree. Next, LaFont extended the deck to encircle a liquidam-bar tree and installed a large lily pond (see drawing on page 82). When the avocado tree became diseased and was removed, the landscape was reshaped into its current configuration. But without the avocado, the back deck lacked a focal point, so LaFont installed' a new centerpiece - a handsome English gazebo - and narrowed the middle of the deck to form a "bridge" over the water. He also added a second, smaller lily pond on the other side of the bridge. Though the two ponds are separate, they create the illusion of being one body of water.

The ultimate compliment comes when partygoers tell LaFont, "I can't believe I'm still in the city." He says, "Sometimes I forget, too."

The details

Deck. Though LaFont chose unfinished fir instead of redwood primarily to keep costs down, he likes the wood's rough, weathered look.

Ponds. Excavated holes were padded with old carpeting, followed by a standard PVC pond liner, then a layer of chicken wire, which was capped with concrete. LaFont mixed his own corn crete, using soil rather than sand in the mix to create a stickier material that's easier to work with and forms more natural-looking pond edges.

Water plants. The ponds are planted with a mixture of hardy and tropical water lilies, other flowering plants, and oxygenating grasses. To find the right balance of plants, LaFont gleaned information from books on water gardening; visits to specialty nurseries like Van Ness Water Gardens (see below); and Internet chats with experienced water gardeners. Water hyacinth, a natural purifier, plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of LaFont's aquatic ecosystem. (Water hyacinths must be confined to home gardens and should never be released into natural waters, where they can be serious pests.)

Good sources for aquatic plants:

* Daydreamer Aquatic and Perennial Gardens, Route 1, Box 438, Belpre, OH 45714; (800) 741-3867. Write for a free list or visit www.daydreamergardens.com.

* Moorehaven Water Gardens, 3006 York Rd., Everett, WA 98204; (425) 743-6888. Free list.

* Van Ness Water Gardens, 2460 N. Euclid Ave., Upland, CA 91784; (800) 2052425. Free catalog.

Accessories. The Ogee gazebo of nylon-coated steel, made by Agriframes (about $1,250, plus shipping), was purchased from New England Garden Ornaments (508/867-4474). The rustic bent-willow furniture has cushions covered in Sunbrella, an acrylic fabric made for outdoor use, and filled with fast-drying foam used in boat cushions.