they see this as so important are two-fold: getting people, especially the children away from chlorine and second, replacing aquatic habitat. You see, for every customer who decides to swim in clean fresh water a frog or two will be there, announcing the beauty of it all.
Chris Paquette has been teach- ing thousands of gardeners and pond enthusiastsabout the science of water features through Maine Garden Day, Southern Maine Community
The customer asked if they had the book, which they did and not wanting to miss an opportunity, Robin’s Nest proceeded to build its fi rst natural swimming pool in Maine. This has become the most exciting part of their business. No chemicals and they are beautiful to be in and around!
Over the next ten years, Robin’s Nest
developed the “Garden Swim Pond” (GSP). They are partnered with the largest Eu- ropean builder and originator of natural swimming pools, Bio-Top, to offer a pool that has been tested and built in Europe for more than 30 years.
The basics of a natural pool are simple, not unlike a hydroponic garden. They use lots of crushed stone and bare rooted plants to fi lter the pools and as Chris Paquette says, “Yes, you are swimming with the frogs.” With slow moving water and a little aeration, these pools mature over time and become fairly self-sustaining. There are still things to care for: plant trimming and debris removal, but a robot vacuum can be used to “self-clean” the pool and just requires emptying the vacuum basket.
Many features can be added to the swim ponds to create a custom backyard oasis for you and your family. Docks are popular, as are light- ing fi xtures, slides, and jump rocks. A patio is almost always included for customers to sit and relax next to their swim pond or pool. The standard liner is made of
heavy rubber and is fl exible, allowing the customer to have a pool of any shape and size. And, some these are big! The largest one built so far is almost 200 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 16 feet deep. This one has a sauna, swim in fi re pit, grotto with a sheeting waterfall entrance, a bridge, and a granite diving rock jutting out 12 feet over the deep end. Their smaller garden swim ponds range from 25 by 40, to an average of 60 by 35 feet.
Robin’s Nest has built a few dozen of the NSP & GSP versions over the years and popularity is still increasing steadily. So much so, they are developing a profession- al training program for contractors and de- signers to premier in winter 2018. The goal is to develop standards and methods for installation for sustainability and growth. The company sells kits and provides sup- port around the country already and sees this as a natural progression. The reasons
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College and various seminars at the Portland Flower Show. Robin’s Nest has won numer- ous awards at the Portland Flower Show and has been featured in Garden Design Magazine, and People, Places and Plants, and The Maine Sunday Telegram. For more information, visit:
www.mygardenspa.com. See ad on page 12.
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