Some of my favorite stone masonry fantasy projects are enhanced natural or man made Grottos, Obelisks, and man made Ruins. These are terms that you don’t hear every day in connection with stone masonry projects. Usually we are talking about stone fireplaces,stone walls, or patios when we talk about stone masonry projects. A truly beautiful way to enhance your garden, is by employing stone masonry art that dates back in times when gardens were places of enhanced beauty. Three of ways that you can enjoy this natural beauty is by placing stone Grottos, Obelisks, and ruins in your garden landscape. To start a Grottos is another word for a cave or a depression that is in a slope or stone retaining wall. You are only limited by your own imagination as to the type, style or size that you would like to build, a small Grottos can be the size of a small spring with water bubbling out or a large dry depression in hillside with stone outcroppings that form the cave like walls and celling. In most cases your Grottos will have a cap or stone like celling this can be large or small, sticking out past the opening or only covering part of it. A natural looking Grottos will be of mysterious depths and will create a hint of sheltered recesses, accented by partly screened planting. Having a focal point, or stalagmite looking stone just inside the Grottos will create a delightful primitive feeling.

Stone Ruins have always fascinate peoples imaginations, they seem to suggest that something special or ancient could have been there. Who was it that built that crumbling stone wall, or stacked those large stones all up there end? Down by the garden wall a rusted iron gate hangs anchorage to the stone, could this be a prehistoric gathering place of the Clan McDonnell? Only your imagination will let you know while providing you with a sense of mystery and delight. The only requirement to having a good Ruin is to have a little imagination, some stone with out any new cut or split faces. Then placing them together so as to suggest that it was originally part of a previous structure. With a little more imagination you might take it up a bit higher by including a old window or doorway, try framing an attractive tree or garden spot on the other side of the window in the Ruin Wall and be ready to be entranced by the view. A simple built Ruin can enhance your landscaping project by making it irresistible to adults and children alike, so one quick note make your Ruin solid and safe to be around. Last but not least every beautiful Ruin needs to be slightly over grown with a nice verity planting, mosses, and an old tree trunk.

Obelisks can be a departure from the natural look of a garden, an Obelisks is usually a single tall stone standing up on one end. When you place it in the garden it will quickly become a major focal point as it draws your eye over to it. Your Obelisks should be at least 5 feet high and set down in the ground approximately 2 feet so as not to tip over. Not all Obelisks are set single, today in many gardens they are being set in groups of three or more. Standing stones have a long history, a case in point is the most famous stone groupings of all, Stonehenge near Salisbury England. There are many other ways to place stone in the garden that will enhance the garden to all who will see, some of the ideas that we have been talking about you can be incorporated in both large and small gardens. You are only limited by the size of your rocks and your imagination. stone masonry seattle