| Featured Article in the June 2007 Virginia Gardener Magazine |
To me, water gardens used to be cozy
ponds in the backyard with a few fish, water
lilies and a battle with algae in the summer.
That was until I met Norman Tharpe.
Actually, I met one of his water garden
creations before I met him.
I was walking toward a clients' front door,
when the sound of cascading water caught my
attention. I followed what sounded like a
peaceful mountain stream, and that's exactly
what I found in this suburban backyard. It
reminded me of those wonderful creeks and
stream beds in the Blue Ridge Mountains and
foothills.
ponds in the backyard with a few fish, water
lilies and a battle with algae in the summer.
That was until I met Norman Tharpe.
Actually, I met one of his water garden
creations before I met him.
I was walking toward a clients' front door,
when the sound of cascading water caught my
attention. I followed what sounded like a
peaceful mountain stream, and that's exactly
what I found in this suburban backyard. It
reminded me of those wonderful creeks and
stream beds in the Blue Ridge Mountains and
foothills.
Water Gardens
In sync with nature
In sync with nature
Norman Tharpe sets Virginia
mountain rock to naturally fit
the contours of a mountain
stream in the construction
stage.
mountain rock to naturally fit
the contours of a mountain
stream in the construction
stage.
It's amazing how serene and relaxing the sound of water on rock can be.
When I asked my clients about their beautiful stream, filled with native plants and brightly colored koi, I was told it was
created by Norman 13 years ago; with no problems or repairs and that it was easy to maintain. I had to meet Norman
Tharpe and see more.
Norman, who was born and lives in Lynchburg, calls himself an artist of water garden designs. He works with nature to
create natural backyard waterfalls and peaceful mountain streams from ordinary plain landscapes. He then adds native
plants to complete the paradise.
"The delight you see on a pond owner's face when they first glimpse their completed water garden is priceless" Norman
said.
With more than 25 years of creating water gardens, every intimate detail is part of his artistic process. With a broad
range of education on water garden plants, aquatic fish, algae, pond life predators and diseases that can wipe out a prized
collection of fish and frogs, he's a full package of know-how from start to finish.
When I asked my clients about their beautiful stream, filled with native plants and brightly colored koi, I was told it was
created by Norman 13 years ago; with no problems or repairs and that it was easy to maintain. I had to meet Norman
Tharpe and see more.
Norman, who was born and lives in Lynchburg, calls himself an artist of water garden designs. He works with nature to
create natural backyard waterfalls and peaceful mountain streams from ordinary plain landscapes. He then adds native
plants to complete the paradise.
"The delight you see on a pond owner's face when they first glimpse their completed water garden is priceless" Norman
said.
With more than 25 years of creating water gardens, every intimate detail is part of his artistic process. With a broad
range of education on water garden plants, aquatic fish, algae, pond life predators and diseases that can wipe out a prized
collection of fish and frogs, he's a full package of know-how from start to finish.
He even volunteered at a local aquarium and fish
store to learn first-hand about types of fish, how to
treat disease, the optimum water conditions for healthy
aquatic life, how to restore the pH of water, and the
best water temperature for feeding your fish and
aquatic plants.
I watched as Norman hand-picked Virginia
mountain rock with natural moss and lichens at a farm
in Catawba, including boulders to fist-size stones. "If
it's going to look like nature, it starts with the right
stone, but you better watch it, sometimes I come
across snakes like copperheads, and that's about as
natural as it gets," Norman reflected as he gathered
one more moss-covered boulder.
Once all the stone was selected, Norman began the
tedious process of sculpting the outline of the stream
and ponds.
store to learn first-hand about types of fish, how to
treat disease, the optimum water conditions for healthy
aquatic life, how to restore the pH of water, and the
best water temperature for feeding your fish and
aquatic plants.
I watched as Norman hand-picked Virginia
mountain rock with natural moss and lichens at a farm
in Catawba, including boulders to fist-size stones. "If
it's going to look like nature, it starts with the right
stone, but you better watch it, sometimes I come
across snakes like copperheads, and that's about as
natural as it gets," Norman reflected as he gathered
one more moss-covered boulder.
Once all the stone was selected, Norman began the
tedious process of sculpting the outline of the stream
and ponds.
"Sometimes I need to customize concrete forms to hold the
soil in place if the earth is too soft," Norman pointed out as he
formed a shelf in the pond for water iris to grow.
Soon the boulders and rock were placed throughout the
stream, and several times he would remove one, and replace it
with another until the exact look was satisfying and in sync with
nature.
Filling the structure with water brought the water garden to
life. The cascading sounds of splashes and trickles were relaxing
as the pond and stream beds filled to their brims. Finally, the
finishing touches of adding landscape plantings, a cozy bench,
water plants and colorful koi brought the project to completion.
In addition to a large portfolio of natural waterscapes,
Norman designs formal water features with graceful fountains,
restores existing water gardens, builds striking stone patios, walls
and terraces, plus offers a menu of full service maintenance
needs.
Having seen a number of Norman's projects from freefrom
to formal, "awesome" best describes his gift of emulating nature
with water. So when considering adding a water element to your
landscape, put your water in Norman Tharpe's hands, no matter
where you are located, he will plan the right water feature that
best suits your style of living.
soil in place if the earth is too soft," Norman pointed out as he
formed a shelf in the pond for water iris to grow.
Soon the boulders and rock were placed throughout the
stream, and several times he would remove one, and replace it
with another until the exact look was satisfying and in sync with
nature.
Filling the structure with water brought the water garden to
life. The cascading sounds of splashes and trickles were relaxing
as the pond and stream beds filled to their brims. Finally, the
finishing touches of adding landscape plantings, a cozy bench,
water plants and colorful koi brought the project to completion.
In addition to a large portfolio of natural waterscapes,
Norman designs formal water features with graceful fountains,
restores existing water gardens, builds striking stone patios, walls
and terraces, plus offers a menu of full service maintenance
needs.
Having seen a number of Norman's projects from freefrom
to formal, "awesome" best describes his gift of emulating nature
with water. So when considering adding a water element to your
landscape, put your water in Norman Tharpe's hands, no matter
where you are located, he will plan the right water feature that
best suits your style of living.
BENEFITS OF WATER IN THE GARDEN
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