Charlotte. Bottom row, left to right: Tim Wood, Aquatic Edge, James Lavery, Atlantic-Oase, Thomas VanAmerongen, Niagra Waterscapes.
Each year, we stack the “Supreme Stream Court” with a unique cross section of the pond world. The judges always includes select winners from previous contests. This year, the POND Trade Editorial Committee nominated two winners from our 2023 contest, two award-winning designers and two high-profile representatives from pond-product manufacturers. After the 2024 Water Artisans of the Year judges reviewed blind entries, they ultimately selected a winner and runner-up in four categories. This year there were four categories including Formal Features & Fountains, Best Pondless, Most Naturalistic and — new this year — Recreational Ponds. Check out the winners and runners-up.
To be eligible, projects must have been completed between Nov. 1, 2023 and Nov. 1, 2024. While we accepted multiple entries from the same person, the rules allow for each project to be submitted in only one category. POND Trade magazine’s editorial staff collected the judges’ rankings for each of the four categories and calculated the winners.
About the Judges
The judges who served on this year’s panel were:
Paul Cole is the president and chief executive officer of EasyPro Pond Products. He has a strong passion for the future of the water-feature industry and a deep appreciation design work and water features of talented pond contractors. When Paul isn’t working, he enjoys hunting, fishing and enjoying the great outdoors.
James Lavery has been with Atlantic-Oase for 14 years. During this time, he has enjoyed a front-row seat to the company’s exceptional growth. Now the national sales manager, James was involved in the recent Atlantic-Oase corporate merger, which reshaped the industry. He seeks to set a new standard within the industry by working among an exceptional team.
B.J. Linger is known for creating highly detailed, out-of-the-box water feature designs during his more than 20 years spent working in the pond world. In 2011, he was named the inaugural Aquascape Water Feature Artist of the Year. He is the co-owner of Outdoor Network Services, a website design and marketing company that has launched hundreds of websites and marketing strategies for pond and landscape contractors and retailers all over the United States.
Past Water Artisans of the Year Winners who Served as Judges
Bradley Blocksom won the 2023 contest in the Best Under $20k category and is one of our youngest winners. Under the guidance and direction of his father Dave Blocksom, who started Pondscapes of Charlotte in 2002, Bradley has helped grow the company. He plans to transition to an ownership role in the near future. Bradley enjoys building water features and loves being part of a team of motivated young individuals.
Thomas VanAmerongen won in the Most Naturalistic category in 2023. He is the owner of Niagara Waterscapes in Ontario, Canada, which he founded in 2022. With a passion for natural stone, he has fallen in love with the creativity of visualizing and placing each stone. Thomas specializes in creating natural ponds, waterfalls and fountains to bring out the natural beauty on any property. He believes that every water feature project is a new opportunity to create something completely unique.
Tim Wood, a three-time contest winner and Supreme Stream Court veteran, started Aquatic Edge in 2010 and has over 20 years of industry experience. Tim and his team are Master Certified Aquascape Contractors, 2016, 2017 and 2021 Water Artisans of the Year Award recipients. Additionally, he was named the Aquascape Inc. Artist of the Year in 2020, and the Aquascape Conservationist of the Year in 2023. Aquatic Edge is a full-service water garden design, repair and installation company in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.
