With stress as one of the number one causes of heart attacks, many people are overwhelmed with pressing deadlines, phone calls to return, projects to complete, meetings to make and have no time to themselves to wind down from these situations. Top executives are turning down six-figure incomes after years of stress to do things they really enjoy and spend more time with their families. Why not come home to the relaxing sound of water falling into a pond filled with colorful Japanese Koi and Goldfish. Take a nap outside during the daytime with a waterfall drowning out all of the noise around you. Spend time with your family and friends entertaining during a warm evening, watching the ballgame and enjoying the nights delight.

Alan and Sherry Koontz of Thomasville are helping to provide that scenario. Their company, Carolina Pondscapes Inc., which has been installing water gardens in hundreds of landscapes throughout the Piedmont/Triad for over eight years, will again be featured at the 2007 Southern Home Show at the Greensboro Coliseum complex, March 9-11. These water gardens are providing families a place to come home and relax with crystal-clear, sparkling water, blossoming water lilies, and soothing, melodious waterfalls. From a boring hillside or a section of a yard that is barren and uninteresting, and turning it into a place of tranquility; this has been the process that the Koontz’s have mastered. From a simple bubbling stone to an extravagant 25-foot waterfall, anyone can enjoy the sounds of water and see the benefits it does to nature and its surroundings.

“Alan is an artist, and treats every stone that is placed in and around the pond as though Mother Nature had her hands on it,” said Sherry, president.

Operations manager and co-owner Alan says, “I don’t like to rush when I am creating a waterfeature. Many have jumped into this business to see how many ponds they can put in during a year or how they rank as a contractor based upon the amount of installs they have completed. Not us. We want to make sure that our signature is well-written by the appearance of the waterfeature. Many can put in a pond, but to make it appear natural, only a few have the artistic ability.”

Carolina Pondscapes was established by Alan & Sherry Koontz in 1999 as a design and construction company that specializes in custom water features. Sherry, who has been associated with the water garden industry for over 9 years, decided to establish the company in the Piedmont / Triad area due to the fact there were not many companies around that specialized in this type of industry. From having first hand experience with a shovel, managing a retail operation for 2 years, Sherry has developed the knowledge that takes the company to a higher level. Her background includes 12 years as US Army soldier, a Master Gardener designee, degreed Horticulturist, and a mother of three. She conducts seminars for many garden clubs and trade shows, and has had several articles published about water features. Sherry has been recognized by many as a leading source in North Carolina with a wealth of knowledge in the industry.

Alan, using his natural creative and artistic abilities, started building several ponds for family and friends. As the ponds progressed, so did his ability to paint a picture using stone. The way he places each rock to determine if that would mirror the image in nature sets him apart from many others. There are landscapers today that are purchasing pond kits to tap into the water garden industry but many are not familiar on how to correctly install them. It is easy to follow a landscape design plan by placing plants and hardscapes, but to make a pond appear natural, it takes an artistic ability to place stone. Alan believes that anyone can order a kit, line the outside edge with stone and construct a water feature. What happens is that it appears unnatural, looking man-made, and eventually is a production line of ponds. His background includes Nature Photography, Mechanical / Electrical Engineering, and Computer Electronics. Alan also served 8 years in the US Army as a Paratrooper and Drill Sergeant, and spent 10 years in the corporate world until he joined Sherry in the business.

Next month, March 9 - 11, Carolina Pondscapes will again be one of the featured gardens in the Southern Ideal Home Show. If you would like to see the aspects of how a water garden soothes the soul, then visit Alan and Sherry at the show, contact them at (336) 451-0130/0132 during regular business hours, or visit their website at www.CarolinaPondscapes.com.