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Backyard Tropical Island Paradise

The construction...
Well, here's the yard as it was on March 28, 2005. We had just started construction.

The first problem was to get the plumbing to the waterfall. The plan was to tap into the existing pool recirculation system and use valves to divert water from the pool return to the waterfall. The pipes going around the pool were buried 3 feet deep along the edge of the pool... under a 3 foot wide concrete sidewalk that surrounded the pool.

In the view above, I had dug a trench 7 feet long (I'm over 6 ft tall), and 3 feet deep along the sidewalk, and a tunnel back towards the pool to locate the plumbing. At the right is a view of the pipe after I removed a section of it to install 2 90 degree turns to bring the plumbing out and up.
I've attached the new pipes leading to the surface, and ultimate to the waterfall.
Here are the plumbing and valves. The bend in the foreground will lead to the waterfall.

While I was at it (but not shown here), I decided that while I was doing all this digging I would dig trenches and install conduit and outlet boxes around the yard. I put boxes at each end of the terraces and behind the waterfall for low voltage lighting, using the string trimmer, etc. and additional boxes at other areas around the yard. At the time my brain told me I should install an underground sprinkler system while I was at it, but my back vetoed the idea. In hindsight, I probably should have gone ahead and done that.
April 2 - We've now set, (but not cut off), 4x4 posts for our framework in concrete 2 feet into the ground. We dont want the waterfall going anywhere... like sliding down into the pool. The center 4x4's will be the supports for the bridge that will cross the waterfall stream.
April 8 - Rains have slowed us down, but we've begun the frame and form building, as well as some of the terracing. Unfortunately, a big storm is expected the next day, so I've put down some concrete to prevent the areas we've dug out from washing away. Yep, that's my handy wheel-barrow where I hand mixed some 140 sacks of concrete and mortar.
April 14 - The rains have subsided, and we've begun terracing with concrete blocks, and pouring concrete into some of the forms. The forms were made to be permanent under the structure to give it more support. They were framed with 2x6 lumber and bolted with 6 inch long 3/8 in. bolts to the 4x4s. You can see some of the reinforcing wire mesh used in double layers and placed over everything to provide shape and reinforcement to the mortar.
Another view, showing the upper waterfall framework, and the concrete forms. Note the plywood on the end to keep concrete (and debris during rains) out of the pool. The lower slab had just been poured. The bales of hay at the top were used to give us a rough shape to the waterfall. They were covered in layers of wire mesh, after which we added a 3-4" layer of mortar. Once it hardened, the straw could decay over time, still leaving a sturdy structure.
Note the concrete blocks are staggered slightly into the hill. Rather than mortaring them together on the outside edges, we filled the block holes from bottom to top with mortar for the structural strength of solid blocks, while allowing water to move slowly between the blocks themselves. This allows water to work down slowly to the lower levels, and keeps from having the "pool" effect that would create muddy bogs of the terraces after heavy rains.
April 17 - After putting a 3" structural coat of mortar over the concrete blocks, we're now adding the final veneer coat, hand moulding in the rock "look". I also put the decking on the bridge to give me a way to move the wheel barrow back and forth, since the sidewalk was now blocked.

HINT: When doing the veneer coat, mix the mortar to a "sticky" consistancy that will allow you to mold it like clay. If you happen to make it too "soupy", let it stand for awhile to let it evaporate; but mix it occasionally so that the edges don't try to set up.
April 21 - Can you tell that I'm getting anxious??? We're already planting gardens... not a suggested way to go, since it gets in the way when applying the stain and sealer coats to the concrete.
April 25 - We've now begun working on the upper section of the waterfall, including the grotto.
May 7 - All of the structural layer of concrete is complete, and we're adding the final veneer layer, moulding in the boulder type shapes... you can finally begin to see the various terrace layers that will help slow down and hold runoff water from the neighbor's house up the hill behind us. (The terraces have little slopes or "spillways" to divert the water to where I need it to be.)
Still May 7, I've run all the low-voltage lighting. Even before the stain coat was applied, the lighting gave a dramatic effect to the structure at night.
May 19 - Landscaping is in progress, but this is my view while sitting at the bar. The grassy area to the left of the falls will be next with both garden and patio terraces; but for now it is time for a "cold one" (Pepsi).