Jim Garland, famed for turning fountains into works of art around the globe for over three decades, has found his latest muse in Chester County’s Longwood Gardens and at $90 million, it is his most ambitious project to date, writes Adrian Higgins for The Washington Post.

Garland’s artistic creations are an unusual mix of theater architect, hydraulic engineer, lighting designer and choreographer. His charisma combined with his passion has prompted Paul Redman, Executive Director of Kennett Square’s Longwood Gardens, to describe him as “the Elton John of the fountain world.”

When it is finished next year, the Main Fountain Garden built by industrialist Pierre S. du Pont will incorporate Garland’s 21st century vision with the existing du Pont’s light and water show from the 1930’s, including its 138 “legacy” jets and 380 fountainheads.

The completed project will have a total of 1,719 coordinated jets and streams to wow onlookers. Some of the new streams will come from robotic nozzles that swivel to create the effect of dancing jets, while others will display color creations never seen before in fountain displays.

Everything will be accompanied by music from an advanced sound system and special software to coordinate a perfect synchronization of the entire spectacle.

“The old sound system was actually quite nice, and the new one will shame it,” said Garland. “The old lighting system was superb, you might consider it an instrument. The new one is like an orchestra.”

Read more about Garland’s plans and watch a 3D presentation of fountain’s future at The Washington Post here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage of Longwood Gardens here.