Scott Cohen | The Green Scene Landscaping and Pools

Making a scene

After sunset, the homeowners can create a manmade spectacle by lighting fire bowls that flank the perimeter-overflow spa. ?When you look at it from different places in the yard, the spa becomes a sheet of glass, and the flames just lick right across the water,? Cohen says.

The fire rings sit only about ? inch above the surface of the overflowing basins, so water and flame appear combined, yet remain separate and the hardware stays dry. Crushed blue glass safely covers the fire rings and coordinates with the pool interior, while cobblestones fill the outer bowl.

A small table sits discreetly in the middle of the spa so it doesn?t interrupt the perimeter-overflow effect. ?It?s just 1/8 inch below the water level, so you can put your cocktail glass right down there,? Cohen says.