For the sixth year in a row, Aquascape and a group of Certified Aquascape Contractors (CAC) teamed up to create water features at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. This year Aquascape and its group of CACs focused on the future of water gardening and constructed six water features that highlight current and future landscape trends.
The range of water features included an 11-foot-by-16-foot ecosystem pond, four decorative fountains created with the AquaBasin reservoir, and a prototype rainwater harvest storage system. In addition to these outdoor features, a Pondless Waterfall was constructed inside the Flower and Garden Festival’s reception center using the AquaBasin.
“Epcot is focused on sustainability and officials were very enthusiastic about the rainwater harvest storage system we installed this year,” said Ed Beaulieu, Chief Sustainability Officer for Aquascape, Inc. “What’s unique about our rainwater storage and filtering system is that we incorporate rainwater harvesting with Pondless Waterfalls and AquaBasin decorative features in order to show consumers that they can enjoy beautiful water features in their yard while enhancing their commitment to water conservation and the environment.”
Leading this year’s crew were Ed Beaulieu and Brian Helfrich, Construction Manager at Aquascape, along with CAC Director Cliff “Motel” McReady of Pensacola, FL. Certified Aquascape Contractors participating in the Epcot project included Jaak Harju from Atlantis Water Gardens in Rockway, N.J.; Rich Nichol from Nature Coast Aquascape in Floral City, FL; Chris Sturdyvin from Chris’ Water Gardens in Homer, IL; Jeremy Johnson from Tranquil Waterscape Designs in Franklin, TN; Keith Smith from Aquatic Paradise in Highland, CA; Jerry Romano from Liquid Designz in Township of Washington, N.J.; Kenneth Walls from Pondscapes in Charlotte, Matthews, N.C.; Michael Nickles from Paradise Ponds and Waterfalls in San Angelo, TX; Chris Patrick from Landscape Basics in Wesley Chapel, FL; Jim Price from Pondtastic Watergardens in Kissimmee, FL; Marc Hellmann from Earth Energy Landscaping in Menlo Park, CA; Paul Mancheski from Waterscape Designs in Forestville, WI; Kevin Cotter from Glencar Watergardens & Lighting in Hopewell Junction, N.J.; John Cenicola from The Pond Crew in San Antonio, TX; and Oronzo Coppola from Grapevine Land & Waterscape in Coral Spring, FL.
Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival runs from March 19-June 1, 2008.