d.koi - The boulders are dry stacked with the bottom row being farthest from the wall and as you add rows you just set them closer and closer to the wall. Sometimes you have to add a rock or two behind to help support the next row. Once you get a boulder good and set it's not going anywhere. To get the dry stacked look on walls you lay the stone in layers and only add mortar to the back half of the stone as you go. We didn't use mortar for the stones in the waterfall because I always like to be able to change anything if need be. Stay away from round stones when dry stacking a wall. Hopefully that answered your question.
Last thing on the list was to install all plants around the ponds. I was able to find just the right Jap. maple for the waterfall. That could have taken a while since I can be quite a perfectionist. The filter pit contains 3 nexus 300, 6 dolphin AV50 air pumps, 3 performance pro pumps, and some wild plumbing. That is all for now. Gene has ordered some fish for us from Japan and those are do in within 3 weeks. WOW!!
Thank you...it was a lot of fun to build. I was given freedom to design it any way I wanted. A once in a lifetime opportunity. I can't wait for spring to get here. It will be nice to see the plants sprout around the pond and watch the jap. maple leaf out.
I can't wait for spring to get here. It will be nice to see the plants sprout around the pond and watch the jap. maple leaf out. 
