2012/7.1, July 11 — Hilltop Beauty, French Lessons, Pool-to-Pond Conversion and more

The customer wanted it all: a large pool and spa made with natural materials; a fully equipped outdoor entertainment area; and a place to keep cool while lounging in the sunshine – all woven seamlessly into a work of watershaping art that took full advantage of a marvelously scenic location.Here’s a look at how designer/builder David Tisherman pulled together all the details and put them into a dramatic final form.

This article, originally published in October 2001, has been digitized for all readers. Once you click ‘more’ on the next screen, you can zoom in on images to study the craftsmanship in detail. [continue]

In developing any design, says Kate Wiseman, it always helps to be up to speed on great precedents and to draw on what they have to teach about the task at hand. Case in point: The Gardens of Versailles, which she describes as a ‘design clinic’ for all watershapers. [more]

Pond expert Mike Gannon loves big projects like this one, in which he transformed an old pool into a pond that will become prime retail space in a garden center. Here, he starts with demolition and moves along to a point where the pond really starts taking shape. [more]

For years, observes Jim McCloskey, the watershaping industry has been dogged by a repeated claim of real-estate gurus that swimming pools hurt home values. That’s out the window, he says, if a new report from a real estate agent in Talahassee, Fla., packs any punch. [more]

Sad End to a Life Not Well Lived L.A.’S RODNEY KING DEAD AT 47 – BODY FOUND IN BACKYARD POOL [more]

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. A massive event billed as “The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson” took place on June 14 at 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time in ____ U.S. states, plus a number of foreign countries. Fill in the blank.

a. 47 b. 48 c. 49 d. 50

2. “For the first time ever,” reports NPR.org, “the U.S. Synchronized Swimming team won’t be at this summer’s Olympics in London. It didn’t qualify to compete.” But two of the team’s members will be competing in the synchronized-swimming duets event. Last August, the two successfully competed in that event at the Pan American Games. What medal did they bring home?

a. Platinum b. Gold c. Silver d. Bronze

3. What washed ashore at a popular New Jersey beach, prompting authorities to close it to swimmers?

a. Severed human limbs c. Medical waste
b. Dead birds and fish d. Hand grenades

To find out how many you got right, click here.