The Buzz About Bees
Scott Cohen is passionate about plants and especially those that produce beautiful flowers. Here he explains that while plants add a rich dimension to his designs, they do also attract pollinators, including bees, other insects, hummingbirds and even bats. Thankfully, it is impossible to have flowers without the creatures that help propagate them, but to his mind, having a garden blossoming with color and life is a source of tremendous joy and fascination. ...
Seeds of Integrity
Effective branding and marketing start with who you are, says Kurt Kraisinger, and as he points out in this incisive diatribe on success, there are no short cuts to integrity.   ...
In Service of Sacrifice
In a colossal effort to support a wounded veteran, Paolo Benedetti worked a series of small miracles pulling donations of material, equipment and labor to build a pool for Sgt. Brian Jergens. The result is a place where the still young man can heal from his physical and psychological injuries. ...
Defeating Drought
Dry times are inevitable, writes Eric Herman; and, at present, all indications are that much of the Western U.S. is in the early stages of what looks to be a severe drought. That’s why, he says, the sooner we face the reality of ever-increasing demand for freshwater and dwindling supply, the sooner society can push back against the potential horror and disaster of water shortages. ...
Pentair’s Commercial UV Systems
Pentair (Cary, N.C.) makes the BioShield Commercial UV disinfection system, designed to eliminate problems with waterborne pathogens and chloramine formation. The system is made of Schedule 80 solvent-welded PVC, available in standard sizes up to 2,335 gpm and are NSF 50 certified. The low-pressure, high-output UV lamps offer up to 12,000 hours of continuous operation. To learn more, go here.
Garden Artisans Offers Giant Leaf Fountains
Garden Artisans (Annapolis, Md.) sells giant leaf fountains by Henri Studios. The fountain is crafted of cast stone (concrete) and offered in a range of both standard and custom finishes. The design features water cascading over four large leaves. It measures 35 inches high, 36 inches wide and 34 inches front to back. It weight 466 pounds. To learn more, go here.
Why Rivers Bend
Have you ever wondered why rivers almost always form snake-like forms as they move downslope toward their destinations? The underlying science is both sublime in concept and profound in its implications, stretching from how the Grand Canyon was formed to the way energy is disbursed as water flows through pipes.    ...
Building Educational Bridges
Watershape University is ready to meet the increasing need for industry education, both online and in person, across a spectrum of mission-critical topic areas. Co-founder, Dave Peterson, recently appeared on an episode of Ask the Master’s podcast showcasing the range of programs WU is delivering in the post-pandemic era. ...
Voices from the Designer’s Den
As part of its Wolfpack Webinar Wednesdays live online series, Watershape University has presented three installments of Design 1921: Designers Den Series, hosted by Mike Nantz. The idea is to pull back the curtain on the design process through the eyes of some of the industry’s leading designers as a source of insight, advice and inspiration. ...
Highly Transpicuous
Pools are hitting new heights, literally. In recent weeks, two record-breaking pools opened in Dubai and London, quickly becoming media sensations, both for their daring designs and decidedly elevated locations. ...