The May 2018 newsletter showcased a massive front yard transformation where Auburn Sky demolished an uninspired front lawn and a crumbling retaining wall weakened by improper drainage and backfill. The entire area was re-graded to accommodate a multi-tiered retaining wall, three sets of steps capped with custom bluestone treads, a paver patio with a large circle kit, and all-new planting beds. Wall, step, path, and uplighting completed the design.

The paver patio's circle kit was designed as a focal point where the clients could add a bench, take family photos, and set up a holiday tree each Christmas. The project was rounded out with decorative stone, mulch, and a wide-ranging selection of flowers, shrubs, and ornamental trees including a Dwarf Japanese Maple and stunning Coral Bark Maple.

This issue also announced Auburn Sky's very first Water & Garden Showcase, held July 21, 2018, at the Auburn Sky facilities at 13 State Route 15 in Lafayette, NJ. The event invited the public to experience water features of every type and size, feed koi fish with the kids, and stroll through a private garden spotlighting the pairing of water and plants.

The January 2017 newsletter featured one of Auburn Sky's most dramatic transformations: a complete backyard facelift for a Sparta, NJ family. What began as a large yard of full grass with a natural slope became a multi-level outdoor retreat complete with waterfall, fire pit, sitting wall, and patio areas.

Darren designed three distinctive areas, each with its own highlight, connected into a natural, sweeping space united by curves, stone choices, and flowing transitions. The upper area features a full 25-foot pondless waterfall and stream running alongside natural stone steps. The middle section opens to a large paver patio area with a boulder retention wall and a sitting wall surrounding a fire pit. The third area, accessed through more natural steps or via slider doors from the bar and game room, features a paver patio section designed to support a future jacuzzi hot tub.

Accent lights in the waterfall, path lights along the steps and patios, and uplights on select plants ensure the homeowners can enjoy the space from day well into night.

In December 2015, Auburn Sky Landscaping was proud to share the story of an extraordinary build. Dr. Jan Pol, the beloved veterinarian and star of the Nat Geo Wild series The Incredible Dr. Pol, welcomed Darren Tubito and the Aquascape Pond Squad to his property for a major water feature installation.

The project involved creating a stunning new waterfall, wetland filtration system, and intake bay at Dr. Pol's home. The new filtration and circulation systems dramatically improved the water clarity and quality of the existing lake by pulling off leaves and organic matter that would otherwise settle to the bottom and raise nitrogen levels — a recipe for algae growth. In just 48 hours, with the new system and waterfalls in place, Darren and the team transformed an ordinary body of water into a living, breathing ecosystem.

The full build was documented as Episode 7 of the Aquascape Pond Squad series on YouTube, and Darren's earlier work at the Casa Hogar children's home in Cabo San Lucas can be seen in Episode 3.

The September 2015 newsletter showcased Auburn Sky's design process from initial sketches to finished builds. Owner Darren Tubito uses his degree in Landscape Design & Management to create stunning renovations for private and commercial properties, offering photo-rendering projections so clients can visualize the final result before a single shovel hits the ground.

The featured waterscape project was a 16-by-22-foot pond with two biofalls, cantilevered natural flagstone, a firebowl, a wetlands filtration system with varied aquatic plants, and an urn fountain as a centerpiece. A 30-foot stream runs back to the pond, and nighttime lighting highlights the unique features and extends enjoyment into the evening.

Also featured was a highlighted hardscape and softscape job where Darren worked with Natural Bluestone irregular flagging in full-range color to extend a client's outdoor patio space. The project included removing existing banisters, grading and leveling the area, and replacing gravel with a flagstone patio and new planting beds filled with perennials, deciduous and evergreen shrubs, and natural rocks — all finished with low-voltage accent lighting.

March 2015 marked a proud milestone for Auburn Sky Landscaping: 15 years in the landscape design and build industry. From our earliest projects to the complex water feature installations we're known for today, our commitment to education and craftsmanship has never wavered.

After a busy 2014 season, the Auburn Sky team dove into seminars, classes, and conferences. Through Rutgers University, we attended classes on plant health, bed plantings, and plant maintenance. We traveled to the Pondeminium Seminar in York, PA for the latest pond and waterfall techniques, and attended the MAHTs trade show in Atlantic City for new hardscaping materials. Aquascape flew Darren and his foremen to Illinois for hands-on training after they logged extensive online coursework.

Darren also traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to work with the Pond Stars on a charity water feature build for Casa Hogar, an orphanage housing over 40 boys.

This issue also explored how fountains can transform even the smallest outdoor spaces. Whether it's a bubbling urn, a stacked slate column, or a custom-designed feature, the sound and sight of moving water brings relaxation and beauty to any garden, patio, or planting bed.

Auburn Sky Landscaping has always been committed to working alongside the best in the water feature industry. In September 2014, that commitment was on full display as owner Darren Tubito appeared alongside the Pond Stars on Nat Geo Wild.

The Pond Stars series follows Greg Wittstock, owner of Aquascape, Inc., and his team of elite water feature experts as they travel the country transforming backyards. Darren has had the honor of working alongside Greg, Ed Beaulieu, Brian Helfrich, and Chris Hanson at builds across the country, including the Sussex County Fairgrounds, the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, and a sensory environment project at Sugar Grove farm in Illinois.

As a Certified Aquascape Contractor, Darren earned this distinction through hands-on training and rigorous testing. This issue also highlighted Auburn Sky's growing digital presence and the company's investment in photo-realistic design rendering software that allows clients to visualize their finished landscape before construction begins.

This special multi-page newsletter takes visitors on a detailed tour of Auburn Sky's own office backyard — a project that proves a small space can be designed to feel expansive. Owner and Certified Aquascape Contractor Darren Tubito built distinctive yet cohesive areas into the design, from a wetlands filtration system to a 25-foot stream leading into a koi pond complete with fish caves, spill bowls, fire bowls, aquatic plants, and nighttime lighting.

The guide walks through every element: Fire Bowls that unite water and flickering fire. Spill Bowls adding flowing water to the pond's edge. Driftwood for visual interest and cascading water. Koi fish for beauty and algae control. Fish caves offering predator protection and winter shelter. Natural stone feeding rocks, BioFalls for oxygenation and beneficial bacteria, skimmers for debris management, and pumps sized to keep everything flowing.

Beyond the water features, the tour highlights a Karney Flagstone Slab patio, a Rippled Urn, a hand-crafted Terra Cotta Vase fountain, a Mini Stacked-Slate Urn with interior lighting, CAST path lighting, Aquascape underwater accent lighting, and the 25-foot stream connecting the wetlands filtration to the koi pond.

The backyard also serves as Auburn Sky's living laboratory for testing plants, water features, and seasonal experiments year-round — directly informing the recommendations made to clients on everything from aquatic plant selection to pond winterization.

This promotional flyer invited the public to visit another must-see pond and garden created by Auburn Sky Landscaping, located at 111 Beaver Run Rd in Lafayette, NJ. The property features two incredible Auburn Sky renovations: a stunning front entrance makeover with walls, steps, and patios, and a gorgeous backyard recreational pond with waterfalls, wetlands, and patio.

Open house events like these give homeowners the chance to experience Auburn Sky's craftsmanship firsthand and see what's possible for their own properties. Contact Auburn Sky at 973-383-4840 to learn more about recreational ponds and water feature installations.