Starting Your Journey

Rodney Jarboe didn’t start out to create a movie set in his back yard. When he and his wife Regina purchased a nearly two-acre lot in a Town and Country subdivision 25 years ago, they looked at the level terrain and were thinking of a lovely swimming pool and maybe a tennis court.

 When it comes to gardening around a pool or water feature, it’s important to know what plants to look for to make sure everything goes swimmingly. For example, some plants may become damaged from a saltwater pool or have difficulty being in the full sun. By carefully choosing the plants you place in your landscaping, you can ensure a summer of fun and easy-going greenery.

More specifically, the bubbling, splashing, gurgling sound of rushing water is the stuff of daily curtain calls. The stage set is green and glowing; filled with daffodils and dogwoods in spring and ferns, sedum and astilbe in summer. Shrubs such as sumac, boxwood, viburnum, hydrangea and creeping juniper provide a constant backdrop and the fall color is spectacular.

The homeowner worked with The Pool Specialists to transform his previously tiny pool into a new lap pool that is a replica of his pool in California. He wanted the longest lap pool he could fit into the restricted space dictated by size requirements from Ladue. Construction required the homeowner to build a concrete wall as well as fill in a lot of land in order to get a flat piece of landscape for the pool. The west wall serves as a water fountain.