2014/2.1, February 5 — Water-Draped Sculptures, Pond Practicalities, a Palm Springs Oasis and more

January 22, 2014 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

On Sails of Stone

Through 35 years of crafting watershapes ranging from small fountains to large waterfalls and streams, landscape artist Frederick L. Gregory always sought to harmonize the primordial splendors of nature with modern times and settings. Today, he sculpts granite and creates his harmonies by deftly merging the asymmetry of the Japanese garden with the sensual abstractions of tropical Brazilian landscapes — compositions that often involve the mesmerizing qualities of water.

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

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Acid Test

It’s a phenomenally helpful substance when used at recommended levels to stabilize the chlorine in outdoor pools. But some say cyanuric acid can harm plaster finishes, which prompts Kim Skinner to defend it here against what he sees as an unwarranted charge. [more]

PONDCRAFT 101

Sealing the Deal

It’s the home stretch for this series of videos (both literally and figuratively) as Eric Triplett wrestles the liner into place, attaches the faceplate to the waterfall/filter unit and makes some crucial adjustments needed to complete the pond’s most riveting visual detail. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Planting Pains

Back in February 2009, Bruce Zaretsky wrote with great agitation about the state of the art in landscape architecture, design and contracting — and a trend that had him keenly concerned about the future. [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

When Pools Crack

When watershape shells fail, it can take an expert’s eye to pinpoint the cause. But you don’t need an engineering degree to avoid trouble in the first place, says Ron Lacher, who outlines how he investigates failure cases here while suggesting ways to avoid common problems. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Spirited Waters

Palm Springs, Calif., hosts an unusual sculpture that artfully moves water through the hot desert air. Devised by David Curt Morris, ‘The Rainmaker’ celebrates the life-giving power of water in the driest of climates — a great place to visit, cool off, relax and play. [more]

Digging Luxury Underground:

Wealthy Brit to Build $16 million
Basement for Swimming Pool

[more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Penny-Wise, Fountain Foolish

A story out of New Zealand underscores the importance of planning ahead and attending to details on the drawing board, writes Jim McCloskey — especially when the problems that might result have such obvious (and even dire) consequences. [more]

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

While supplies last, you can purchase one of 6 available complete, mint-condition, 131-issue sets of WaterShapes, a print publication that set the tone for development of the art and craft of watershaping from February 1999 until July 2011. For ordering information, click here!

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Backyard Pool Converted into
Underground Marijuana Farm

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

1. According to sfgate.com, police in a suburb of one large U.S. city busted a marijuana-growing operation inside a backyard swimming pool. The report says a concrete roof was built across the top of the pool, and the pool’s interior was connected
to a bedroom in the house via a tunnel. The bust was made in a suburb of what city?

a. San Francisco b. Los Angeles c. Miami d. Atlanta

2. The Web site mirror.co.uk reports that two 31-year-old male tourists visiting Tenerife, largest of the Canary Islands, were injured when they “dived into an empty swimming pool for a midnight swim.” One “reveler” suffered a sprained ankle; the other fractured his skull and is “seriously ill in hospital.” What nationality are the men?

a. British b. Irish c. Australian d. Canadian

3. This year’s Beijing International Swimming Pool SPA Bath Show will be held April 1-3, 2014 at the China International Exhibition Centre. What number show will this one be?

a. Second annual b. Third annual c. Sixth annual d. Ninth annual

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

2014/1.2, January 22 — Celebrating Roberto Burle Marx, Tropical Dreams, Making Waterfalls and more

January 22, 2014 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

A Master at Work

When it comes to identifying those who’ve shaped his life and work, acclaimed landscape architect Raymond Jungles doesn’t hesitate in naming Brazilian designer Roberto Burle Marx as a singularly profound influence. Famous for bold arrangements of plant materials and architectural forms, Burle Marx’s gardens are among the world’s most celebrated and studied — a legacy Jungles describes here as a close friend and student of the master.

This article, originally published in October 2007, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

PROJECT PROFILE

Caribbean Outpost — North

When clients in New York asked Bruce Zaretsky

to create a tropical paradise in their Frost Belt backyard, he hesitated for a bit — then pulled out all the stops and presented them with a subtly themed poolscape that met their hearts’ desires. [more]

PONDCRAFT 101

Cascading Exertion

Building waterfalls for ponds may have fun results, but as Eric Triplett demonstrates in this sequence of four detailed videos, it’s also hard, painstaking work that requires patience, persistence — and, as he and his crew can attest — plenty of brute strength. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Hard Choices

Early in 2004, Stephanie Rose wrote passionately about the effective use of rocks in landscapes and gardens. Click here to see why she assigned such importance to these materials.

PLATINUM REFLECTIONS

Digging the Quarry

The watershapes and landscapes at Quarry Golf Club at La Quinta, Calif., are points of great pride for golf-course designer Ken Alperstein. Here, he describes what went into the waterfalls, streams, ponds, rockwork and plantings that lend the setting such powerful charms. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Getting in Step

Running across a new type of watershape is unusual for Jim McCloskey after all these years of studying them in detail. That’s why he wanted to pack his bags and head to India when he saw a video about a truly unique solution to providing access to well water. [more]

From Va-Va-Voom to Human Prune?

Sari-Clad Indian TV Actress in
Pool Six Hours for Videotaping

[more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Back and Forth

The tasks involved in compiling WaterShapes EXTRA bring smiles to Jim McCloskey‘s face: Not only does he get to spend time with the fabulous archives of the printed magazine, but he also gets to work with fresh content — and make all of it more accessible than ever before. [more]

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

While supplies last, you can purchase one of 6 available complete, mint-condition, 131-issue sets of WaterShapes, a print publication that set the tone for development of the art and craft of watershaping from February 1999 until July 2011. For ordering information, click here!

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Russion Olympic-Medalist
Swimmer Fails Doping Test

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

1. According to reuters.com, Yulia Efimova, a Russian Olympic swimmer who garnered a bronze medal at the London Games, has failed a doping test. The report states: “The 21-year-old would be the ________ Russian swimmer to have tested positive for a banned substance since the 2012 London Olympics….” Fill in the blank.

a. Second b. Third c. Fourth d. Fifth

2. The Web site theleader.com (we’re leaving out the rest of the URL because it would give away the answer) reports that a homeowner was seriously injured when he put stabilized chlorine granules into a bucket, added water and stirred — rather than pouring the chlorine directly into the pool. After 30 seconds, the mixture exploded; the homeowner was rushed to the hospital and survived. Where did this mishap take place?

a. New Zealand b. Australia c. Ireland d. Canada

3. A cnn.com article about champion cliff diver Orlando Duque — who hails from Colombia and is known as “The Duke” — says divers who leap off a 27-meter-high platform can reach up to what speed on the way down?

a. 35 kph (21.7 mph) b. 55 kph (34.1 mph) c. 75 kph (46.6 mph) d. 85 kph (52.8 mph)

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

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.

2013/12.2, December 18 — Winter Water Spectacles, Perfect Landscape Lighting, Thwarting Reindeer and more

December 18, 2013 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Shaping the Night

Effective landscape lighting requires a careful balance of several key elements, explains Janet Lennox Moyer, the chief among them being the fine art of lighting plant material. In this feature, one of the world’s leading authorities on the subject of exterior lighting describes the way she approaches this part of her projects, revealing the thought processes and practicalities involved in making greenery come alive when the sun sets.

This article, originally published in March 2005, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

TRAVELOGUE

Frosted Plumes

If you are among those who live where it gets really, really cold this time of year, Jim McCloskey recommends bundling up, braving the great outdoors and seeking out local watershapes that present their viewers with rare and wondrous winter spectacles. [more]

PONDCRAFT 101

A Pond After Dark

It’s a simple fact that many working homeowners see their backyards after the sun goes down more often than they see them in daylight. That’s why Eric Triplett installs lighting in almost all of his ponds — a process he covers in splendid detail in this video. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Reindeer-Proof Holidays

The holiday season is a time for caring and sharing, observed Scott Cohen at this time last year — but feeding Santa’s reindeer when they stop by is asking too much. Here are some timeless planting suggestions that will help guide these marauders elsewhere. [more]

PLATINUM REFLECTIONS

Eastern Eclectic

Years in the making, this project pushed its designers to their creative limits. The result, says Ben Dozier, is a set of French- and Asian-influenced garden rooms highlighted by plants, sculptures, garden ornaments and fine hardscape treatments — oh, yes, and plenty of water. [more]

WHAT IS IT?

#10: Acrylic Pool Wall

Those thick, clear acrylic panels that are being included in more and more pool projects these days are definitely as cool as Mike Farley declares in this recent video. But as he points out here, success with the look requires the installer to be fully up to speed with a few key details. [more]

The True Spirit of Sportsmanship:

Florida Boy Gives Swim Meet
Trophy to Hospitalized Rival

[more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

On the March

Progress with WaterShapes.com is coming so steadily that it can go unnoticed, observes Jim McCloskey, which is why he’s calling attention here to the completion of a major project that promises to bring WaterShapes to a new generation of aquatic professionals. [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

Young Swimmers Evacuated from Changing
Room Because of Prosthetic ‘Pool Pervert’

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

1. When staff at a swim center saw a foot sticking out at the bottom of a changing room cubicle, they evacuated the youngsters who were getting back into their street clothes after a swimming lesson. But, the website of the Mirror newspaper reveals, “…when they opened the changing room door, they saw the suspected pervert was a prosthetic leg innocently left by a disabled man while he went for a swim.” Where did this amusing case of mistaken identity take place?

a. USA b. France c. Italy d. UK

2. And speaking of alleged pool perverts: Dailytelegraph.com.au reports that an Afghan man seeking asylum in Australia has been arrested for “indecently assaulting” a number of teenage girls at a Sydney swimming pool. The man allegedly grabbed “the girls around the waist, touching their thighs, bottoms and breasts.” What, according to his lawyer, is his defense?

a. Bad eyesight b. Bad swimming skills c. Bad nutrition d. Bad English

3. Around two-dozen feral pigs that inhabit a tiny Caribbean island (now referred to as Pig Island) love to go swimming in the warm waters surrounding their home. What country does the island belong to, according to deepseanews.com?

a. The Bahamas b. Jamaica c. Dominican Republic d. Grenada

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

2013/12.1, December 4 — Using Reflections, Liner Repair ABCs, Soil Basics and more

December 4, 2013 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Graceful Reflections

The potency of water’s reflective nature is a component of watershaping that is all too often ignored or left to chance, says renowned environmental artist Anthony Archer Wills. When considered from the outset of a project, however, the brilliance and subtlety of a reflection is something he uses to completely transform the experience of viewing water in ways that become ongoing sources of delight and fascination for his clients.

This article, originally published in February 2007, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

PONDCRAFT 101

A Stitch in Time

All sorts of interesting things happen on a job site. Eric Triplett knows, for instance, that the misplaced jab of a shovel occasionally means that a pond liner will need a bit of emergency repair work — a process he walks through step by step in this important video. [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Ground Work

There’s no room for guesswork when it comes to structural engineering, says Ron Lacher, especially with concrete structures designed to contain water. Here, he discuses the precise planning and attention to workmanship that are often the keys to watershaping success. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Keep It Clean

No pool owner wants to spend his or her free time netting leaves or fetching sunken debris. That’s why, as Lew Akins relates in this brief video, he’s so determined to bundle an automatic cleaning system of some kind into virtually all of his watershape projects. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Just Amazing

In converting past columns from the magazine to the web site, Jim McCloskey couldn’t help noticing that there was something special about a standout element of many of those items — that is, the profound artistry of Rick Leddy, the magazine’s longtime art director. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

A Villa for the Ages

The Getty Villa hosts what may be the world’s greatest private collection of Greco-Roman antiquities. But as Eric Herman reports, it’s also a visitor’s delight for its classical architecture, subtle gardens and elegant watershapes — not to mention great views of the Pacific Ocean. [more]

Are Diamonds a Swimmer’s Best Friend?

Million-Dollar Swimsuit: Wretched
Excess with a Wacky Tan Line!

[more]

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

While supplies last, you can purchase one of 6 available complete, mint-condition, 131-issue sets of WaterShapes, a print publication that set the tone for development of the art and craft of watershaping from February 1999 until July 2011. For ordering information, click here!

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Golden Goggles Award: Which Swimmer
Was Named ‘Female Athlete of the Year’?

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

1. According to Web site espn.go.com, USA Swimming recently named Ryan Lochte “Male Athlete of the Year” at its annual Golden Goggles awards ceremony. Who was named “Female Athlete of the Year” at the event?

a. Missy Franklin b. Haley Anderson c. Katie Ledecky d. Allison Schmitt

2. Swimvortex.com reports that longtime national swimming coach Mitch Ivey — who was a teammate of Mark Spitz at the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games — has been banned by USA Swimming for his alleged history of sexual misconduct with young female swimmers. For how long is Ivey now banned from the sport of swimming?

a. 10 years b. 15 years c. 20 years d. Life

3. A number of great white sharks were videotaped recently swimming right under surfers off a beach of one California community. Happily, notes americanlivewirre.com, no one was attacked. Where did this take place?

a. Manhattan Beach at El Porto b. Mission Beach at San Diego
c. Capistrano Beach at Dana Point d. Big Kahuna Beach at Barstow

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

2013/11.2, November 20 — Behind Disney’s Magic, Rocking a Pond, Olympic Vistas and more

November 20, 2013 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Riding a Golden Wave

Completing the fountain for Disney’s California Adventure theme park presented watershaper Dave Wooten and his company with immense technical and operational challenges: In crafting a huge artificial ocean wave that serves as the park’s symbolic core, he and his staff not only pushed the limits of hydraulic and mechanical design, but also met incredible standards for planning, performance and system serviceability set by an awesome client.

This article, originally published in September 2006, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

PONDCRAFT 101

Rocking and Rolling

It may be fun to place rocks and boulders and watch a pond really take shape, says Eric Triplett, but as this detailed video attests, it’s also lots of hard work. What keeps him going, Triplett adds, is the fact that this part of the project is also a grand exercise in artful improvisation. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Olympian Aspirations

Any trip to Atlanta, writes Jim McCloskey, should include a pilgrimage to Centennial Park for a long look at the Fountain of Rings — a monument to Atlanta’s spectacular hosting of the 1996 Olympic Games that’s been a great public gathering place ever since. [more]

WHAT IS IT?

#9: Leaf Cover

It’s not a glamorous detail, notes Mike Farley, but in many parts of the country at a certain time of year, a leaf cover can be a crucial part of the full pool/spa package. Here’s a video that shows their annual autumnal value — and how intricate these fabrications can become. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Paying It Forward

While at his booth during the recent International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo, Jim McCloskey met a young watershaper who had an unusually probing question about this digital newsletter on his mind — and, it turns out, plenty of ambition to go along with it. [more]

PLATINUM REFLECTIONS

At Play in the Fountain of Life

Extraordinary scope and logistical coordination: That’s what the design, engineering and construction of ‘The Fountain of Life’ project was all about. But that was only part of the story, says Eric Dobbs, with playfulness, whimsy and a blistering desert sun having their roles, too. [more]

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

While supplies last, you can purchase one of 7 available complete, mint-condition, 131-issue sets of WaterShapes, a print publication that set the tone for development of the art and craft of watershaping from February 1999 until July 2011. For ordering information, click here!

The Poor and Women Need Not Apply, but . . .

Swimming Is All the Rage for
Some in Kabul, Afghanistan

[more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Nature’s Way

Back in November 2008, Brian Van Bower turned his attention to the natural side of watershaping — and elaborated on a familiar set of constraints he encountered along the way. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Michael Phelps Doesn’t Want
Anyone to Compare Him to . . .

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

1. Michael Phelps passed the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency drug tests he took in the third quarter of 2013, opening the possibility of his return to competitive swimming. According to olympictalk.nbcsports.com, Phelps was quoted as saying: “If I decide to keep going and swim again, then I’ll compete. If I don’t, I guess I’ll re-retire. Just don’t compare me to ____________.” Fill in the blank with the correct name.

a. Floyd Mayweather b. Brett Favre c. Lance Armstrong d. Michael Jordan.

2. Washingtonpost.com | The Associated Press reports that Ryan Lochte will not compete in next month’s Duel in the Pool swim meet in Glasgow, Scotland, due to a physical injury. What part of his body was injured?

a. Left knee b. Right elbow c. Left ankle d. Lower back.

3. The usnews.nbcnews.com web site notes that a giant sinkhole in one Southern state swallowed (among other things) one homeowner’s entire backyard pool. What state?

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

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

2013/11.1, November 6 — Shimmering Island Delights, Pond Skimmer ABCs, Deck Engineering and more

November 6, 2013 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Shimmer and Shine

Looking for a surface material as unique as the resort itself, the designers of Jade Mountain turned to David Knox of Lightstreams to create completely original tile products for use in the structure’s 25 vanishing-edge pools, with each one to have its own unique colors and optical qualities. Here, Knox describes the process of deploying glass tiles throughout one of the world’s most unique and extensive watershape environments.

This article, originally published in April 2007, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

PONDCRAFT 101

Setting the Skimmer

Proper installation of a skimmer is crucial to the success of most pond projects, both hydraulically and aesthetically. AsEric Triplett demonstrates in detail in this video, getting this step in the process right is all about good planning — and plenty of precision on the job site. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Working Multi-Year Relationships

For Dan Lenz, completing a watershaping project is often just the beginning of a long-term relationship with his clients — one that will, if he handles things properly, carry him back into homeowners’ yards for periodic updates, upgrades and even major renovations. [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Expansion Solutions

When the soil expands under a concrete pool deck, the pressure can turn the finest slab work into an unsightly clash of cracked planes and angles. There are ways to overcome this expansiveness, says Ron Lacher, but first you need to know what you’re up against. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Family Fun

The approach of Thanksgiving and November’s national pool show has Jim McCloskey thinking about turkey and family fun — and about the changing state of the art with WaterShapes as it moves into the future with all sorts of new items on the agenda. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Amazing Grace

Fallingwater — Frank Lloyd Wright’s sublime interweaving of architecture, forest and water — is one of the world’s most photographed and studied residences. It’s also a favorite travel stop for David Tisherman, who marvels at a grandeur that has never been matched. [more]

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

While supplies last, you can purchase one of 6 available complete, mint-condition, 131-issue sets of WaterShapes, a print publication that set the tone for development of the art and craft of watershaping from February 1999 until July 2011. For ordering information, click here!

Sports Poisoned by Politics:

Israel and Its Athletes Discriminated

Against at Swimming World Cup

[more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

It’s Always Something!

You need to take care in selecting plants, advised Stephanie Rose ten years ago in her Natural Companions column, because making the wrong choice might lead you on ‘invasive’ adventures. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Ugh! Video of Blood-and-Guts
Food Fight in a Swimming Pool

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

1. In honor of Halloween, London-based mobile network giffgaff produced a gory, campy video with 150 people hurling fake blood and internal organs at one another, all at the bottom of an empty swimming pool. The disgusting video images are accompanied by “Walk of Shame” by American rock duo __________.

a. Deap Vally b. Deap Cavrn c. Deap Oshin d. Deap Rivr

2. The opera company of one major U.S. city recently mounted a production of “Orpheus & Eurydice” at a local natatorium, with the facility’s lap pool standing in for the River Styx. In what city did the watery production appear?

a. New York b. San Francisco c. Miami d. Chicago.

3. A structure that claims to be “the world’s biggest building” has opened in a large Chinese city; it is reportedly three times bigger than the Pentagon and includes, among many other facilities, a waterpark. Where is the mega structure located?

a. Beijing b. Shanghai c. Chengdu d. Guangzhou

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

2013/10.2, October 23 — An Otherworldly Hilltop, Lining a Pond, Revisiting the Fair and more

October 23, 2013 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Viewing a Dream

There is no way to describe this home other than as ‘art,’ says watershaper Steve Dallons. It was a mountain of a project that demanded every bit of skill and craft he and everyone else who worked on site could muster, but the opportunity to work on a world-class project designed by a renowned architect made everything worthwhile, even enjoyable. And the proof of the achievement is in the photographs, as this feature amply demonstrates.

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

PONDCRAFT 101

All Lined Up

As Eric Triplett sees it, the process of making a pond is about performing a sequence of tasks so well that no problems can ever arise. In this video, he shows what that means when it’s time to install the underlayment and all-important liner for this project. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

A Fair to Remember

Visits to New York tend to focus on Manhattan, notes Jim McCloskey. While that makes a certain amount of sense, he nonetheless recommends a side trip to Queens to see the magnificent, literally global fountain that was the symbol of the 1964 New York World’s Fair. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Designing for Access

Setting up a pool and spa for a client who uses a wheelchair involves the designer and builder in myriad critical details that, as Lew Akins discusses in this video, are all dedicated to the cause of making it as easy as possible to get into and out of the water. [more]

PLATINUM REFLECTIONS

Welcome to Paradise

When it comes to listing the most ambitious of all uses of water in recreational settings, says Steve Kaiser, the resort known as Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas, should quickly come to mind because of its multiple pools, slides, fountains and marine exhibits. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Helpful Heat

An arm’s-length list of home improvement projects has kept Jim McCloskey hopping in recent months — and a note from a friend has renewed his conviction that his favorite form of watershape is an incredibly versatile, valuable source of comfort and relaxation. [more]

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

While supplies last, you can purchase one of 7 remaining complete, mint-condition, 131-issue sets of WaterShapes, a print publication that set the tone for development of the art and craft of watershaping from February 1999 until July 2011. For ordering information, click here!

Exercise, Excitement and Safety . . .

Open-Water Swimming Vacations:

The Latest in ‘Adventure Travel’

[more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Planting Places

Back in October 2008, Brian Van Bower shared his thoughts on looking beyond the boundaries of pools and spas and looking for the potential in the rest of the site — especially one key area. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

While Snorkeling in the Pacific, Marine

Science Instructor Finds ‘Sea Monster’

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

1. While she was snorkeling off Catalina Island near Los Angeles, marine science instructor Jasmine Santana came across a dead specimen of the rare oarfish, which resembles a mythical giant sea serpent. Although the specimen she encountered was “only” 18 feet in length, how long can oarfish grow?

a. 30 feet b. 50 feet c. 80 feet d. 100 feet.

2. OxfordDictionaries.com defines wild swimming as…

a. Swimming in the nude b. Swimming while intoxicated or high
c. Swimming in natural bodies of water d. Swimming while playing water polo.

3. The dramatic impact of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on a swimming pool was captured on video. In what Asian country did the temblor take place?

a. The Philippines b. Republic of China (Taiwan)
c. Japan d. Cambodia

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

2013/10.2, October 23 — An Otherworldly Hilltop, Lining a Pond, Revisiting the Fair and more

October 23, 2013 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Viewing a Dream

There is no way to describe this home other than as ‘art,’ says watershaper Steve Dallons. It was a mountain of a project that demanded every bit of skill and craft he and everyone else who worked on site could muster, but the opportunity to work on a world-class project designed by a renowned architect made everything worthwhile, even enjoyable. And the proof of the achievement is in the photographs, as this feature amply demonstrates.

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

PONDCRAFT 101

All Lined Up

As Eric Triplett sees it, the process of making a pond is about performing a sequence of tasks so well that no problems can ever arise. In this video, he shows what that means when it’s time to install the underlayment and all-important liner for this project. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

A Fair to Remember

Visits to New York tend to focus on Manhattan, notes Jim McCloskey. While that makes a certain amount of sense, he nonetheless recommends a side trip to Queens to see the magnificent, literally global fountain that was the symbol of the 1964 New York World’s Fair. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Designing for Access

Setting up a pool and spa for a client who uses a wheelchair involves the designer and builder in myriad critical details that, as Lew Akins discusses in this video, are all dedicated to the cause of making it as easy as possible to get into and out of the water. [more]

PLATINUM REFLECTIONS

Welcome to Paradise

When it comes to listing the most ambitious of all uses of water in recreational settings, says Steve Kaiser, the resort known as Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas, should quickly come to mind because of its multiple pools, slides, fountains and marine exhibits. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Helpful Heat

An arm’s-length list of home improvement projects has kept Jim McCloskey hopping in recent months — and a note from a friend has renewed his conviction that his favorite form of watershape is an incredibly versatile, valuable source of comfort and relaxation. [more]

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

While supplies last, you can purchase one of 7 remaining complete, mint-condition, 131-issue sets of WaterShapes, a print publication that set the tone for development of the art and craft of watershaping from February 1999 until July 2011. For ordering information, click here!

Exercise, Excitement and Safety . . .

Open-Water Swimming Vacations:

The Latest in ‘Adventure Travel’

[more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Planting Places

Back in October 2008, Brian Van Bower shared his thoughts on looking beyond the boundaries of pools and spas and looking for the potential in the rest of the site — especially one key area. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

While Snorkeling in the Pacific, Marine

Science Instructor Finds ‘Sea Monster’

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

1. While she was snorkeling off Catalina Island near Los Angeles, marine science instructor Jasmine Santana came across a dead specimen of the rare oarfish, which resembles a mythical giant sea serpent. Although the specimen she encountered was “only” 18 feet in length, how long can oarfish grow?

a. 30 feet b. 50 feet c. 80 feet d. 100 feet.

2. OxfordDictionaries.com defines wild swimming as…

a. Swimming in the nude b. Swimming while intoxicated or high
c. Swimming in natural bodies of water d. Swimming while playing water polo.

3. The dramatic impact of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on a swimming pool was captured on video. In what Asian country did the temblor take place?

a. The Philippines b. Republic of China (Taiwan)
c. Japan d. Cambodia

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

2013/10.1, October 9 — Incredible Multi-Pool Plumbing, Contented Fish, Poised Pots and more

October 9, 2013 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Troughs and Trenches

The design and installation of the circulation, filtration and chemical-treatment systems for the pools at St. Lucia’s Jade Mountain was a task of monumental proportions and extreme technical, physical and logistical difficulty. The effort was spearheaded by watershaper/hydraulics expert Chris Barnes, who spent months on site installing precision systems engineered to provide years of nearly maintenance-free service.

This article, originally published in April 2007, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

PONDCRAFT 101

Safe and Secure

Those involved with ponds have a responsibility to see to the safety of the fish that inhabit them, notes Eric Triplett. That’s why he devotes this pivotal video to defining the value of including hiding places that will keep fish from harm — and shows how to build them, too. [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Motive Power

At the heart of almost every pool or spa is a pump driven by a motor of one type or another. As Steve Gutai reveals here, there are distinctions among those types you need to know to maximize a watershapes’ energy efficiency and ensure its proper hydraulic performance. [more]

WHAT IS IT?

#8: Poolside Pottery

If you want to make maintenance easy for homeowners, says Mike Farley, you need to think ahead and pay attention to key details from the planning stage forward. As discussed in this brief video, that includes some important matters having to do with humble potted plants. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

To a Healthier World

Evidence of the health-related benefits of watershapes of various kinds mounts up day by day, writes Jim McCloskey. That’s a fact of which every watershaper can justly be proud — and should think about communicating effectively to all potential watershape owners. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

The Enchanted Hill

The jewel of California’s central coast, Hearst Castle is the most public of all ‘private’ residences. Its two pools may in fact be the best known on the planet — but Skip Phillips urges visitors to take a look around and give the estate’s other beautiful watershapes their due. [more]

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

While supplies last, you can purchase one of 7 available complete, mint-condition, 131-issue sets of WaterShapes, a print publication that set the tone for development of the art and craft of watershaping from February 1999 until July 2011. For ordering information, click here!

A Message to Inner-City Youth . . .

Celtics Forward Brandon Bass
Takes Swimming Lessons at 28

[more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

The Trouble with Liners

The majority of pond builders rely on liners to create their bodies of water, noted Douglas Roth back in October 2003. But when it comes to creating high-quality naturalistic watershapes, he wrote, there’s a better way. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Three People Swim Together from
Alcatraz to San Francisco . . . So?!

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

1. Three people – ages 17, 19 and 24 – made headlines by swimming together from Alcatraz to San Francisco. Many others have swum the treacherous, 1.25-mile course, so what was the big deal?

a. All three are autistic b. All three have Down syndrome
c. All three are blind d. All three are missing a limb

2. A landlord in Richmond County, Ga., was sentenced to jail for failing to clean or fill in a neglected swimming pool on a property he owns. This came some two years after he was first advised to take care of the pool by Richmond County Mosquito Control. He received the maximum jail sentence possible. What was it?

a. 30 days b.60 days c. 90 days d. 120 days

3. One Canadian city plans to build the country’s first chlorine-free, naturally filtered public swimming pool in 2014. The project is slated to cost $14.5 million (Canadian). Which city is it?

a. Vancouver b. Calgary c. Winnipeg d. Edmonton

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