Contemporary Garden Decoration: Fountains and their Beginnings
Contemporary Garden Decoration: Fountains and their Beginnings A fountain, an amazing piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also propel water high into the air for an extraordinary effect.Originally, fountains only served a functional purpose. Water fountains were linked to a spring or aqueduct to provide drinkable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Up to the late nineteenth century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and more elevated than the fountain so that gravity could make the water move down or jet high into the air. Artists thought of fountains as wonderful additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to provide clean water and celebrate the artist responsible for building it. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times used by Romans to decorate their fountains. Muslims and Moorish landscaping designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller versions of the gardens of paradise. Fountains played a significant role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exert his power over nature. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were glorified with baroque style fountains constructed to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.
Since indoor plumbing became the standard of the day for clean, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely ornamental. Impressive water effects and recycled water were made possible by replacing the power of gravity with mechanical pumps.
Beautifying city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the functions of modern-day fountains.
The Basics of Garden Herbs
The Basics of Garden Herbs An Introduction to Container Gardens & Herbal Plants.
You will enjoy instant gratification when you grow natural herbs in the garden as they can be used in preparing sauces, soups, marinades and a number of other recipes. Though you may think you have to get out and prune every day with an herb garden this is not true, but even better you can keep it going all 12 months long by moving your pots inside in the fall. If you are thinking of adding perennial herbs to your backyard, you are making a good choice due to the fact they do not die easily or need replanting after every year goes by. In addition, the kinds of herbs you like to cook with should affect your personal herb choices. It is essential to plant herbs that you will use. If you love to cook Latin food, you will undoubtedly use cilantro. If you like Italian food, you should decide to plant basil, oregano, and thyme. You must choose where your herb garden will be grown in order to determine which herbs will mature best. It may be quicker to plant right into the earth if you live in a place that has warm winters and much cooler summers. This makes your property look breathtaking without the problem of making or buying planters. There is practically nothing you can do to get away from harsh weather conditions that might affect your plants. However, there is hope because planters can be moved indoors whenever there's bad weather outdoors so they are flexible and convenient for your herbs.