• This circular stone pond lends a soothing atmosphere to a back yard.Pond image by Lucid_Exposure from Fotolia.com
  
  Every homeowner with a back yard has the opportunity to turn her outdoor space into something special. With the addition of a pond and/or a waterfall, you can create a peaceful sanctuary in your back yard and add an ambiance of character and beauty. Your pond can be purely decorative or you can add fish, organic aquatic plants and other pond dwellers like turtles and frogs to create a permaculture pond, your own mini ecosystem.
  
  

Tiered Waterfalls

• Among backyard waterfalls, the tiered variety offers the most opportunity for creativity. Many people choose to build a steep incline with narrow summits in between each tier, a design that is perfect for limited space. However, a flowing stream with tiers spread across several yards is a more natural-looking option. Add a set of steps right alongside the incline. This allows you the option of taking a little hike while observing each section of your waterfall up close.
  
  

Customized Lighting

• The addition of a waterfall and pond gives homeowners the opportunity to install subtle and tasteful lighting throughout the back yard. Many types of lighting are designed to be waterproof and therefore can be placed safely throughout the area. Install a colored light behind the pour of the waterfall. Here, light is refracted and softened, creating a soothing and almost mystical effect. To go wireless, choose solar-powered garden lights, which are safer and don't raise your electric bill.
  
  

Bridges

• The addition of a bridge to any pond can instantly bring any back yard scene to life. For many people, it offers a reason to interact more with their garden in a personal way. Of course, bridges open the door to a variety of backyard themes. For example, the traditional Japanese garden bridge is a classic option; the wooden Victorian-era bridge is another, more ornate alternative. Each can do wonders when it comes to enhancing the personality of a back yard pond.
  
  

Permaculture Ponds

• Back yard ponds and waterfalls are not only aesthetically pleasing, they can be useful to those trying their hand at permaculture. According to the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, permaculture is an organic gardening movement in which growers create a self-sustaining ecosystem where plants and organisms live just as they would in nature. Ponds, in this scenario, can be key ingredients in attracting and sustaining a host of life forms, from fish to fowl. Plant a selection of fruit trees and vegetable plants on the banks for a tasty addition.