Swimming with Nature
For years, pond/stream specialist Bob Dews has sought perfection in the art of creating naturalistic bodies of water. Just last year, however, a client challenged him to reconsider his usual approach to pond design and develop one expressly for swimming. The result seen here is a composition in rock, plants and water that, rather than serving as a home for fish and aquatic life, is instead a safe environment for people – and lots of aquatic fun.. Read more

Welcoming Waters
For years, watergarden specialist Bob Dews has built his reputation by designing and installing streams, cascades and ponds of remarkable beauty and extraordinary realism. Lately, as he explains here, he’s embraced a new trend by executing projects in the front yards of clients who want a bit of tranquility to ease and invigorate their daily comings and goings and greet visitors with the sort of experience previously only found behind these homes. Read more

Hidden Source
Creating natural-looking cascades and waterfalls requires the deft handling of a range of technical and aesthetic details – the chief of which, observes watershaper Bob Dews, is effective concealment of the water’s source. Here, this specialist in ultranatural watershapes for residential and commercial clients discusses strategies he uses to hide the headwaters and conjure some distinctly ‘natural’ impressions. Read more

Pocket Change
The way pond/stream artist Bob Dews sees it, simple structures he calls ‘dirt pockets’ could revolutionize the way plants are used in naturalistic watershapes. For starters, he says, these pockets give him unprecedented flexibility in taking care of the aesthetics. In addition, they also offer benefits when it comes to the sustained health of the streams, ponds and cascades he’s been installing for clients in the most beautiful parts of North Carolina. Read more

Effective Design and Construction for Algae Control
The quest for clear water should be the ultimate goal of any pond builder. Sure, waterfalls, edge treatment, lighting, and plantings are all intricate components of the all encompassing waterfeature. Read more

The Silver Lining
There are plenty of things to consider when planning construction of a new water feature. Location, depth, water flow, rocks, and plants all play a major role in the preplanning process. Good preliminary vision for the overall completed project will always net you good results. However, there have been too many times that I have seen projects that don’t “fit” in the surrounding to which it was applied. In other words, the watershaper was more preoccupied with something functional verses artistic harmony. Why is that? Read more

The Essence
Sometimes a really good picture sums up why you're in the pond business. Here's an excellent example from Bob Dews (Xstream Ponds, in Cashiers, NC). Bob's photos of a pond he designed and installed show the year-round beauty of his creations. View photos

Is It Live, or Is It Memorex: Building Natural Water Features
Remember that commercial promoting a cassette tape that had such recording clarity it would shatter a glass with a taped opera singer? Their slogan was, "Is it live or is it Memorex?" The commercial went on to interview people on the streets to see if they could distinguish between a taped performance or the live performance and most could not tell the difference, thus authenticating the tape's superior quality. That's the same goal we should be trying to achieve when creating a water feature. Read More

Soul Food
The best ponds and streams not only dazzle the eyes, but also touch the soul. Experts achieve both through top-notch craftsmanship — and an understanding of the human psyche. Read More

Breaking the Chain
Plant pockets make ponds look more natural, while still stopping soil erosion Read More