About Us

 

daveandlisaBackyard Getaway is a family owned and operated pond and outdoor living service business that grew from a hobby into a passion. Over 15 years ago Dave caught the pond “bug” when he purchased his first pond kit. It didn’t take long before he was digging a second pond & helping friends & family create their own backyard retreats. Lisa was hooked too growing aquatic plants and creating container water gardens. Before we knew it Backyard Getaway was born. Over the years the business has evolved and grown to include many outdoor living services including landscape renovations and maintenance, paver or flagstone patio and walkway installation, firepit installation, lake fountain installation and more.
Backyard Getaway’s water features have been featured in Pond Trade Magazine’s Contractor’s Corner, twice in Water Garden News’ Designer Showcase & in Country Decorating Magazine’s 2009 Special Edition Water Gardens issue. Celebrating 10 years of business in 2014, we are the proud recipients of the Best of Houzz Customer Satisfaction award two years in a row in 2015 & 2014, the 2013-2014 Outstanding Innovative Project of the Year award  from the Sarasota County School District Volunteer & Partnership Program for the Colorfalls Water Feature at Lakeview Elementary, 2012 MojoPages Best in Landscaping Award and the Manatee Chamber’s 2011 Business/Education Partnership award for the donated water feature at Haile Middle School. Backyard Getaway is also a business partner in the Be Floridian Campaign created by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. As part of the campaign Lisa is one of 25 artists who has painted a plastic flamingo for a traveling exhibit called “The art of being Floridian.”
Dave and Lisa BurnsDave is especially proud of his work with local schools, where he donates his time teaching students, hands on, how to create a wildlife habitat or water feature. These features become a permanent fixture in the school that the students take pride in maintaining. Be sure to check out the latest school habitat project. In his spare time, Dave has a passion for creating useful and decorative garden art out of re-purposed and recycled items. Check out some of his creations on Re-purposed Backyard.
In addition to her work with Backyard Getaway, Lisa is a freelance contributing writer for Sarasota Pet Magazine, Florida Creative Living Magazine and the new LiveLocal! Magazine. Past articles have been published in RFD-TV Magazine, WQ Magazine and on various online blog sites including Lux Magazine, Bradenton Patch and The Examiner. Lisa and Dave live on a farm, Fort Getaway, in Myakka City with their dogs, horses, goats, birds and cats.
Dave & Lisa BurnsOur customers are our number one priority, we will be happy to walk you through how to install and maintain your water feature. If you are looking for a pond product, have a pond or garden question or you’re not sure where to start, please ask, we will do our best to help you. Do you already have a water feature in your backyard? We offer pond maintenance services and carry water treatments, pumps, filters, lighting, koi food & more. See what our customers are saying about us!
Whether you prefer a Koi pond, a water garden with beautiful lilies, a wildlife habitat, a pondless waterfall, a paver patio, firepit or a complete outdoor living space, we will create your perfect getaway in your own backyard. We offer professional & personalized water garden & pond design, installation & pond maintenance services as well as other outdoor living services including landscape renovations and maintenance, paver patio installation, firepit installation, lake fountain & bio-island installation and more. Be sure to visit our services page to learn more! 
Dave@backyardgetaway.net
Lisa@backyardgetaway.net
941-752-POND (7663)