The Best Part of the Day For John McCallen
Before the day fully begins, John McCallen has a small ritual.
He sits in the garden, looks around, watches the birds, listens to the flowing water, and looks at the flowers, enjoying a moment of relaxation at the beginning of the day and truly enjoying the beautiful space he has created.
For John, these quiet moments are the reason he gardens.
A Lifelong Gardener and Garden Enjoyer
McCallen is a lifelong gardener and garden enjoyer. He has spent more than fifteen years building gardens across California and Washington, sharing his projects on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. His content blends DIY creativity, outdoor living, and a deep love for nature.
But his connection with the garden predates the advent of social media.
He was born and grew up on a farm, and he has always been interested in caring for plants and animals and building beautiful gardens. This early fascination ultimately shaped the way he designs outdoor spaces today.
The Water Feature That Changed the Space
“I've always been really interested in the way water brings life to the landscape.” he says.
Over the years, water features have become a central part of his garden projects — not only for their beauty, but for the atmosphere they create. And recently, one new project pushed that idea even further: a Poposoap solar-powered waterfall system that changed the way he thought about sustainability, design, and outdoor living altogether.
This Has Real Power
John said he had very limited experience with solar pond products before. "The solar product I'd ever used, they didn't provide that much power. And so my expectations were, I didn't know what to expect."
So when he first unpacked the new waterfall kit, one detail immediately stood out: the size of the solar panel.
“I opened up the box and I could see, okay, great. It has a significant panel.” he recalls.
What surprised him even more was how simple it was to install the solar waterfall system. Within minutes, the system was running smoothly– the water circulated steadily in the pond, producing a soft sound and a flowing spectacle, which was exactly what had initially attracted him to the water feature.
The Solar-powered System Changed The Feeling of The Space Entirely
John's pond was previously supplied with water by a traditional electric water pump connected to the house. The new solar system has completely changed that. Instead of drawing electricity from the grid, the waterfall was powered directly by sunlight —quietly generating energy where it's needed.
John places great importance on sustainability in his daily life, and this is of great significance to him.
Inspiration From This Project
And unexpectedly, the project sparked something else: inspiration.
It started as a simple upgrade, but John quickly changed his mind, seeing it as an opportunity to redesign the surrounding space. He designed and built a custom wooden structure for the waterfall and adjusted the layout of the pond.
“Getting that whole waterfall system really inspired me to build the nice wooden housing and stuff because I wanted it, I wanted to create something that was like, looked as nice as it felt.” he explains.
The flowing water breathed new life into the garden. Birds became active near the pond. The once quiet corner of the courtyard is now bustling with life.
That transformation is part of why John believes water features matter, even in small outdoor spaces.
“So even if you have just a little balcony or something like that, and you can have a bowl of water with the solar fountain circulating, I think that adds just so much life and joy to an outdoor space.” he says.
A Garden That Is Always Full of Life
Today, John still begins most mornings the same way: sitting quietly beside the water before work begins.
For him, the garden would never truly be finished. There were always new projects waiting, and new ideas waiting for him to explore.
Sometimes, the best outdoor space isn't necessarily the biggest or the most exquisite.
They’re simply the ones that make people slow down for a moment — and stay a little longer.
That idea is also what continues to drive brands like Poposoap, whose mission is simple: to make creating water features simple and allow more people to enjoy nature.
READ MORE CUSTOMER STORIES: Gardener Gray’s Solar Gardening Journey
55W 580GPH Solar Waterfall Pump Kit with 8" Spillway
$218.99
Purchase the same 55W foldable solar panel as John McCallen: The Pond Waterfall included 55W folding solar panel provides reliable solar power, allowing the waterfall to run efficiently without the need for electrical outlets, saving energy costs.
