Subject: Ananda Landscaping and Calgary Horticultural Water Gardening Course
To: Jane Reksten, Managing Editor, Calgary Gardining, Calgary Horticultural Society
I am writing to let you know how very pleased I was to take the water gardening course offered through the Calgary Horticultural Society and presented by Ron Jones of Ananda Landscaping. I had installed a small pond and waterfall and was looking for some information on how to maintain and perhaps expand my existing pond. When my friend and myself first entered Ron's backyard for the course we were totally amazed. Even though for the lot size and location it should have been an ordinary yard, the waterfalls, pond and plants made one feel as if we were in the most gorgeous wilderness setting. Ron Jones himself impressed us both as a person who was both knowledgeable and passionate about designing waterfalls and ponds. We left with knowledge about how to construct and maintain our own water features.
I, however, was so impressed by the beauty of Ananda's Landscaping work that I went home and showed my husband their video on water features and said we should talk to Ron Jones about building a water feature in our back yard.
We contacted Ron and discussed a plan for our back yard. He was always both very professional and personable. Once we were presented with a plan for our back yard, they were very happy to solicit feedback from us on any design changes. We didn't think that they would be able to work on our yard until next year but due to other project delays we were happy to get a call from Ron in the fall saying that they were able to work on our yard.
From start to finish our yard was completed in just over two weeks. We could see from the beginning that his team of professionals not only enjoyed their work but were true artisans. They not only came to work early but often left very late and our yard began to be shaped from quite a nice lot on a ravine into a real relaxing retreat. Not only was I pleased with the work and the professionalism of the landscapers but I began to hear lots of positive comments about them from our neighbours not only about how beautiful the yard was looking but about the great the work of the landscapers.
As I am writing this letter on November 19, a relative balmy day, my husband has probably spent about two hours relaxing and fiddling with the bird feeders in the back yard. I kid him that he has spent more time this fall in our back yard than he has spent in the whole last ten years and that is not a lie. I am the outdoors person and usually, even on a beautiful summer day, he could be found in front of the TV or on the computer rather than being outside. Now he more often than me makes the suggestion to sit outside, even in the evening in front of our firepit which overlooks the pond and waterfall. Inside the sound of the waterfall is so very relaxing.
We have a condo in Canmore which we may now have to sell. Even though it is very relaxing in Canmore, we don't have the sound of the beautiful waterfall which lulls us to sleep in Calgary. Today when I suggested that we go out to Canmore he said "Why it's so beautiful here?"
Yours truly,
Carol E. Myers
