Blue Thumb is a Michigan-based company that manufactures and distributes water feature equipment and supplies. It was founded in 2000 and has since expanded from a 3,200 square foot space to over 50,000 square feet. The presentation discusses the history of water features from ancient times to modern day and how their design has evolved. It also provides an overview of different types of water features including koi ponds, water gardens, fountains, and wetlands. The role of plants and other natural elements in successful water feature design is emphasized.

1. Use of Water in the Landscape
Presented by: Aaron Scarlata
Blue Thumb
Business Development Manager
For: MSU Student Education

2. Blue Thumb a Michigan Company
Manufacturer & Distributor of
Quality Water Feature Equipment
& Supplies to Landscape
Contractors & Re-sellers

3. Blue Thumb a Michigan Company
 Working with people made (cents) sense

4. Blue Thumb is Born!
 Early interest in pets & fish as a child
 Founded in 2000
 Saginaw Michigan
“Follow a passion and let your
business come after”
(unknown wise person)

5. Growth & Development

6. Need more room!

7. From this…

8. …To this - 2003

9. 3200 sq. ft. Additional Space - 2005

10. PondBuilder is born! - 2006

11. It wasn’t pretty, but it was cheap!

13. 22,000 sq. ft. added - 2011

14. Grew to over 50,000 sq. ft.

15. Blue Thumb a Michigan Company
 Develop business relationships for sustainable growth
 Team of experts in Design Construction Marketing
 Build lasting impressions, relationships & enjoyment

16. Our Role in the industry
 Present quality water feature options
 Provide dependable equipment & supplies
 Educate the professional & end user
 Keep products attainable
 Build a strong industry-minded community

17. Living with Water

18. Creating Focal Points
through the use of
Water Features
becomes a common
thread in design

19. Historically the use of water
Water around the world was valued
for it’s pure essences & ability to
help us grow as humans.

20. Historically the use of water
We Drink It

21. Historically the use of water
We Manipulate It

22. Historically the use of water
We Push It To the Limits

23. Persian Fountains
“Paradise Gardens”

24. “The treatment of water achieves new
heights of ingenuity. Within each garden
the variation of mood was dictated by
changes in the treatment of water…

25. ... a rarely equaled harmony or
movement and contrasting stillness
resulting in a complex interplay of
sound, light and shade reflection".

26. We Manipulate It

27. Practical Uses: Forms over Function
TAKE AWAY:
Use of Precedent and Art can help
Designers meet both Function and
Form for waterscapes

28. Maximizing water’s potential
MUGHAL GARDEN - Developed with the
expansion of the Arab Empire in Northern India. The
exceptional qualities of these gardens arose because
they were developed where water was plentiful and
the Mughal designers were able to make use of it in a
way that would, no doubt, appear profligate to the
Arabs who inhabited less generous climes.
Note: Designers engineered water systems using water
captured off the near by Himalaya Mountains.

29. We Push It

30. Moorish Fountains

31. Moorish Fountains

32. Capturing Water Flow

33. Use of Water Then vs. Now

34. Capturing Water Flow

35. Water envelops the
landscape in a manner as
to play upon the
topography, the channels
of human conflict and the
ways in which humans
inhabit it’s edges.

36. Use of Water in the Landscape

37. Use of Water in the Landscape

38. Use of Water in the Landscape

39. Use of Water in the Landscape

40. The Water Feature Movement
WESTERN GARDENS- Has its roots in Greece and
Ancient Rome. With the coming of the renaissance to Italy, and
Rome in particular, the water garden developed, using the
plentiful water supply of the hills combined with basic piping
and gravity. It was only with the development of the water
powered pump that the styles evolved in the Roman hills
were able to be used in the gravity fed fountains.
Thereafter the styles of water gardens of Rome and Italy
were able to spread to greater Europe where they were
adapted by the French to reach a formal zenith at Versailles.
THE Water Table at Villa Lante. Bagnaio.

41. Finding Balance & Symmetry
"The whole design of the garden is etched in water. From the rock face at the top a little waterfall fills a rough
stone pool.
The water is then led down the center of the garden in stages each more sophisticated than the last until it
reaches the water-parterre at the bottom.
The entrance to the garden is at this level and is reached by steps which pass above a large curved pool with
sculpture by Giambologna in the center.
This pool has a crucial function since it links the formal garden with its counter-balance, the half-wild
woodland threaded with paths and occasional fountain jets."

42. Trevi Fountain- Rome

43. Natural vs. Formal Spaces
ORIENTAL GARDENS- It is in the recreation and
exploitation of natural effects with water that the Chinese
and Japanese water gardens excelled, In fact they took it to
such a pitch that they reproduced the effect of downward
flowing water using sand and rocks.

44. Exploited Edges & Texture

45. Oriental Gardens
The philosophy of oriental gardens
evolved around the creation of places of
solitude and contemplation, working
with, rather than overcoming and
taming nature, and it is only in this
context that it is relevant to fountains.

46. Naturalistic Approach
It was seen, unlike the European
renaissance movement, to present a
more naturalistic, stylized form of
gardening.

47. Use of Water’s Sound

48. Western Movement

49. Aachen Cathedral- Germany

50. Borrowed Scenery- English Garden

51. Borrowed Scenery- English Garden

52. Mixed Uses of Water

53. Design Spaces with Water

54. Design Spaces with Water

55. Design Spaces with Water

56. Water Features in North America

57. National & City Icons

58. Water Features in North America

59. Exploiting the Edges

60. Design Conflicts
Design misunderstandings and poor material choices

61. Use of Lighting to Enhance Water
Buckingham Fountain in Chicago, IL

62. All Water Features Have a Place

63. Types of Water Features

64. water٠garden (n)
A gravel bottom pond naturally
balanced with bacteria, rocks,
gravel, aquatic plants, and a
few fish.

65. Water Garden Ecosystem

66. Water Garden

67. Water plants & sounds

68. Texture & Rock Placement

69. People, Pets & Water

70. Koi Ponds

71. Koi Pond Living

72. Koi- “Gem” of the Water

73. Creating a Habitat for Koi

74. Swim Ponds

75. Cascading Falls
Who should choose a
Cascading Waterfall?
If space is lacking in your yard or
you have safety concerns with a
pond then a Cascading Waterfall is
your best choice. It’s a waterfall
and stream, without the pond. But
remember, you will be limited on
aquatic plant choices and you
cannot have fish with a Cascading
Waterfall.

76. Cascading Falls

77. Cascading Falls
Space
The small size of a Cascading
Waterfall means you can build
and enjoy a beautiful waterfall
anywhere in your yard- front
or back!

78. Cascading Falls
Safety
Because there is no pool of water, a
Cascading Waterfall is a great
option if you are concerned about
safety issues associated with a
traditional pond.

79. Cascading Falls
Maintenance
Taking care of your Cascading
Waterfall is easy. Filling the
reservoir every few weeks to
compensate for evaporated water
is all that’s required. Or you can
install an automatic fill valve and
eliminate virtually all maintenance!

80. Traditional Fountains

81. Bubbling Rocks & Vases
Who should choose a
Rock Column Fountain?
Anyone seeking a larger bubbling
rock system that will offer more
sound than a single element.

82. Bubbling Rocks & Vases

83. Fountain Components
Who should choose a
Ceramic Vase Fountain?
Homeowners, Renters, you name it
because Ceramic Fountains are
portable, easy to install and deliver
a soothing sound of water.

84. Fountains in the Landscape

85. Contemporary Fountains

86. Contemporary Fountains
Who should choose a
Formal Falls Waterfall?
Anyone installing a paver patio with
a wall element should consider a
Formal Falls. Or anyone looking to
add a formal sheer waterfall to
their landscape, fountain or
swimming pool.

87. Contemporary Fountains

88. Contemporary Fountains
Space
The compact size of a Formal Falls
means you can build and enjoy a
beautiful waterfall anywhere in
your yard. Four different standard
waterfall widths are available or a
custom unit can be created for your
specific project.

89. Contemporary Fountains
Cost
The installation cost of a Formal
Falls is varied and depends on the
type of wall material being used as
well as the width of the falls you
wish to create. Please consult your
Authorized PondBuilder Installer for
information. Pump operating costs
are less with a Formal Falls because
it’s not necessary to run the pump
24/7. You can set the pump on a
timer to operate only when you are
home.

90. Contemporary Fountains
Maintenance
Taking care of your Formal Falls is
easy. Filling the reservoir every few
weeks to compensate for
evaporated water is all that’s
required. Or you can install an
automatic fill valve and eliminate
virtually all maintenance!

91. Interactive Fountains

92. Interactive Fountains

93. Interactive Fountains

94. Family Interaction

95. International Value

96. Iconic Fountains

97. Natural Ponds & Lakes

98. Wetlands & Bio-retention

99. The role of Aquatic Vegetation

100. The role of Aquatic Vegetation

101. Role of the Nitrogen Cycle

102. Wetlands for the home

103. Community and Private Rain Garden

104. Connecting Wetlands in the Future

105. Working with Professionals

106. Designing Your Water Feature

107. The role of inhabitants & plants

108. The Friendly Awareness Team

109. The role of fish & plants

110. Water Lilies

111. Water Lilies

112. Floaters
Water Lettuce
Water Hyacinth

113. The role of inhabitants & plants

114. Aquatic Bog

115. Marginal
Cork Screw Forget Me Not

116. Lotus

117. The role of inhabitants & plants

118. The role of inhabitants & plants

119. Becoming a Water Feature
Professional

120. During the Consultation
• 1st: Ask to see the space
• 2nd: Sit down to show ideas
• They might know exactly what they want or they could
be looking for your professional advice

121. Good Investment
• Every new water feature hobbyist tells us that the
money they invested into their water feature was the
best money they ever spent.
• What is peace of mind worth to you?
• You’ll be happy to know that an investment in your
landscape is the best and most cost effective way to
increase the value of your home.
• I like the sound of that!

122. How to become involved
Join us socially
www.pondbuilder.com
www.bluethumbponds.com

123. Questions

124. Connecting with Blue Thumb
 Join us socially
 View our websites
 Email me your questions:
 Aaron@bluethumbponds.com
 Aaron Scarlata- BSLA Business Dev. Mngr.