The Celebration of Water

By Cla Allgood

Southern Seasons, April 2008

Cla Allgood turns Southern landscapes into lavish private retreats.

Imagine relaxing in a pool of crystal clear water and being entranced by a stream that meanders through a lush woodland, flowing through moss covered rocks until it cascades over several stone ledges of a rock outcropping. Are you in the North Georgia mountains? Or vacationing at a lavish resort? If you're fortunate enough to have worked with Cla Allgood, ASLA, you're at home, immersed in your own private retreat.

Founded in 1981, Allgood Outdoors has become one of the Southeast's most respected design/build firms with a reputation for creating fine gardens, distinctive landscapes and, most notably, beautiful and unique water features.

"Initially, I wanted to plant trees," said Allgood, whose course of business was slightly altered 20 years ago when a client asked for a water feature. This job led to more water oriented work, and he was set on a path of learning about swimming pools, fountains, ponds and geology. His studies even extended to specialty courses in water feature design at Harvard and fish health at UGA's School of Veterinary Medicine.

While Allgood is discreet about identifying his residential clientele, which includes an elite list of celebrities, his company has designed and built landscapes and water features for world-class resorts such as The Cloister at Sea Island, Callaway Gardens and Chateau Elan, as well as resorts and golf courses from Atlanta to Hilton Head to Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Allgood's ability to design natural-looking water features along with his technical expertise earned him the honor to do historical renovations at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville and McKee Botanical Gardens in Vero Beach, Fla. He's often found behind the scenes, collaborating on newsworthy projects.

In the midst of Atlanta's current climate of water conservation, Allgood finds ways to balance his role as a designer and environmental steward with his clients' desire to have the sights and sounds of water in their landscapes.

When asked about the repercussions of Georgia's drought, Allgood replied, "I think that the ornamental plants that have proven themselves for the past 40 years are for the most part still proving themselves through this drought. Most plants have a way of protecting themselves during a drought. For instance, an established turf might have more tan and less green, but it does not mean that there is going to be wholesale death.

"Remember the South had beautiful gardens before there were irrigation systems and reservoirs," said Allgood, who recommends choosing plants that historically "live good" in an area.

Allgood works to bring his clients into the creative process, so designs are truly customized for each project. He even works on theme landscapes, where a client may want a replica of his childhood swimming hole or a complete backyard environment that resembles a favorite vacation spot. "I love it when clients tell me that they would like to move, but they don't want to leave their backyard retreat."