A sloped, under-used backyard in Davidsonville, Md., was converted to a multi-level, feature-filled outdoor entertainment area by Kurt Muller of Annapolis Landscaping and Clemens Jellema of Fine Decks Inc. Besides the waterfall and pond, cooking and dining pavilion, and pool with pool house, the project, which took place over two seasons and was constantly evolving, included a four-season porch, two spas – one covered by a fiberglass pergola - another waterfall, a fire pit and natural boulder retaining walls.

An estimated 230 tons of gray granite boulders from West Virginia were used to retain the yard. This "living wall" design was what Muller feels gave him the competitive edge over other landscape companies. Boulders were even placed around the edge of the spa before the coping was installed. In this planter pocket is "Homestead' verbena, "Knockout' roses and "Princess' spirea. Mushrooms, bullets and wall lights illuminate the landscape

All of the paving materials are bluestone, which was also used to cap the raised beam spa that has a spillway into the pool. The veneer on the spa, as well as on many of the other features, matches stone found on the property's house. Beyond the spa is the second boulder waterfall. Some boulders were also placed around the pool's edge before the coping and decking were installed. The pool liner is Pebble Tec. The pool house, which was added at the end of the project, has some veneered stone around its base.

The pumps for the waterfalls are from Pro Pond. The design is described as a bio-fall, which uses a large plastic container with a lip on it that releases the water evenly. Small rocks called riverjack are along the bottom of the lined pond. Four-feet-long bluestone tread stock was used not only for the steps, by also to cap the sitting wall, which was built in between two boulders.

For many years, Kurt Muller of Annapolis Landscaping and Clemens Jellema of Fine Decks Inc. of Owings, Md., have combined their skills to produce custom residential works on a grand scale.

Recently the two teamed up to fit out a residential backyard in Davidsonville, Md., with tons of boulders serving as retaining walls, a four-season porch with stone paver deck above, a pool with slide, waterfall and spa, a separate spa under a fiberglass pergola, a large pavilion that includes an outdoor kitchen with pizza oven, a pond with waterfall, a fire pit and more.

For most of the project, Muller, who started Annapolis Landscaping in 1975, and Jellema worked side by side, along with Johnson Pools in the second phase of the build.

The two phases were both about six-month periods. In phase one, almost everything but the pool and accompanying features were installed. During that phase, the area where the pool was planned provided access to bring in supplies, which included the estimated 230 tons of gray granite boulders from West Virginia.

"I came in with the philosophy of a living wall system throughout the project, which separated me from everybody and that's how I ended up with the project," says Muller. "I saw it as just a big natural park."

Jellema describes the yard as being small but says that Muller did an exceptional job working within those parameters.

"He has excellent creative vision," says Jellema, "something you can't learn in a book."

At this site, Muller used that creativity to turn a lawn-covered slope that was close to 30 feet high and went back 50 feet into a space that the owners, hardworking individuals, could relax in, but also use to entertain.

One aspect of the process that he and Jellema pointed out was the continual evolution of the project.

The pavilion over the cooking and dining area is solid wood. A weight-bearing wall had to be built in the back and the wood-burning pizza oven kit, which was another late addition, was built into it. There is also a grill, side burner, ice maker and refrigerator. Custom-cut granite was used for the countertops.

This spa is close to the house and can be used after the main pool and spa have been winterized. To install it, the landscape company cut into the hill, built a block wall, poured a pad, slid the spa in and placed boulders around it. The steps are from a kit from the spa manufacturer. The fiberglass pergola was also added later. It is covered by a roof membrane system that has two layers enclosed within a cell, which not only protects from the weather, but also from UV rays. Speakers and store-bought indirect lighting were also installed.

The gas fire pit was made from block, which was then double-faced and capped with moss rock that matched the boulders. The artificial logs and hearth kit came as a set.

Windows on the four-season porch are a vertical four-track system of ViewFlex glazed vinyl from Sun Space Sun Rooms, which allows for 75 percent ventilation. Inside is a tongue and groove ipe floor, a fireplace, a large ceiling fan, and a heater/air conditioner unit.

"The project changed as it went along with the owners trusting me," remembers Muller. "When you get into these natural features, you kind of create them based on what the site is asking for."

His company placed all of the boulders, which was accomplished with a ten-wheel drive tandem truck with a Prentice logging rig on the back that is capable of picking up 5-ton rocks; installed the bluestone pavers, caps and treads; built and veneered the fire pit, outdoor kitchen counter, a block retaining wall, and a weight-bearing wall in the pavilion; veneered other features; created the pond and waterfalls; installed the kitchen appliances; and planted crape myrtles, birch trees, cryptomeria evergreens, verbena, roses, spirea, ornamental grasses, daylilies, irises, laurels and more.

Jellema's responsibilities included the enclosed porch with its tongue and groove ipe flooring and fireplace; the deck above the porch; the fiberglass pergola with its UV-blocking, plastic roof; the pool house, fences, and the pavilion that covers the cooking/dining area, whose elevation provides the homeowners and guests a great overview of the new landscape that, as Muller says, "kind of evolved into what is there."

"We had the freedom to do that," he concludes. "When you get a customer that really trusts you, your creative juices can flow."