2014/1.1, January 8 — Incredible Cascades, The City of Fountains, Deck Decisions and more

January 8, 2014 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Natural Patterns

Widely recognized as one of the country’s foremost authorities on watergardens, streams and cascades, Eamonn Hughes has produced watershapes in the Pacific Northwest that are among the most beautiful found anywhere in the world. Here, he shares several of his favorite past projects, using them to define what it takes to achieve believable, naturalistic results with waterfalls, cascades, streams and ponds of any size, large or small, in just about any setting.

This article, originally published in November 2004, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Shaped in the Heartland

In styles that range from the modest to the magnificent, the fountains of Kansas City are so tightly woven into its fabric that the town is justly known as ‘The City of Fountains.’ As Curt Straub writes, these watershapes define the community — and make the city worth a visit. [more]

PONDCRAFT 101

Skimmer at the Ready

Securing a pond liner to the face of the skimmer can be something of a wrestling match, but as Eric Triplett

demonstrates in this video, all it takes is patience, persistence and a good measure of elbow grease to get everything securely and properly into place. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

In Service of Trees

Back in 2009, Bruce Zaretsky wrote with uncommon urgency about the sorry ways trees are often treated on job sites, urging watershape and landscape professionals to give our leaf-bearing friends a break. [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Where Concrete Meets Steel

For the vast majority of custom watershapes, says Ron Lacher, there’s nothing more important than the proper combination of pneumatically applied concrete and reinforcing steel — basic materials most of us should understand a bit better. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Decisions on Deck

When you include ways for your clients to enjoy being around the water as much as they like being in it, writes Lew Akins in introducing his video on some of the decking options consumers face, you’ve found the true path to making them happy for the long haul. [more]

Is Ocean-Wave Energy Next?

Student Generates Electricity
From Lap Swimmers’ Waves

[more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

A New Year’s Revelation

The last days of the old year found Jim McCloskey

wrapping up and looking back on an extraordinarily busy 2013 — and contemplating all of the great things that will be coming to WaterShapes.com and its growing number of visitors in 2014 and beyond. [more]

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

A long time coming, the digital archive of all 131 back issues of WaterShapes is now complete and ready for reference by watershapers, their clients and everyone else who wants to know more about a fascinating art form. To gain access and have a look around, click here!

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

‘Duel in the Pool’ Tiebreaker:
USA Edges Out Europeans

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

1. The Web site olympictalk.nbcsports.com reports that at the end of the recent “Duel in the Pool” swimming competition, held in Glasgow, Scotland, the U.S. and European teams each had 131 points — thereby forcing a tiebreaker event. The U.S. team won that race, squeaking by the Europeans for the overall victory. What event broke the tie?

a. 400-meter individual medley b. 200-meter mixed medley relay
c. 800-meter freestyle d. 200-meter breaststroke

2. Decades after legendary Olympic diver Greg Louganis revealed his gay sexual orientation, bbc.co.uk notes that another outstanding male Olympic diver has announced he’s involved in a relationship with a man. (There is some question about whether he is gay or bisexual.) This time the athlete is British. Who is he?

a. Tom Daley b. Jack Laugher c. Pete Waterfield d. Chris Mears

3. According to bayoubuzz.com, a woman in one Southern state was shocked and terrified when three black bears broke through her home’s screened patio enclosure to go for a dip in her outdoor pool. Where did this happen?

a. Louisiana b. Florida c. Georgia d. Mississippi

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