Backyard spa in the wild
Create the look of an alpine retreat with nature-inspired elements
Reminiscent of a natural hot spring in the Northwest’s mountains, this inviting spa was constructed in a 30- by 50-foot suburban backyard. Landscape designer Barbara Simon and contractor Alfred Dinsdale brought the look to Elizabeth and Mark Ruis’s southeast Portland home by incorporating many elements found in an alpine setting.
Water and plants carry the mountain theme throughout the garden. Opposite the spa on the far side of a central patio, a stream arises from the backyard forest and spills over a log, splashing into a shallow, stony rill that skirts one side of the patio before disappearing underground. The 20-foot-long streambed is reinforced with concrete so that children (and adults) can wade through it. For safety, the entire watercourse drains back into an 800-gallon underground holding tank when the recirculating pump is turned off.
To complete the scene, small conifers such as Abies koreana ‘Prostrate Beauty’ and Pinus parviflora ‘Ara-kawa’ soften the edges, while Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ and Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’ weave among the boulders.
