Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Come From?
Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Come From?
The dramatic or ornamental effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, in addition to delivering drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property. The central purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, from aqueducts or springs in the area. Until the late nineteenth, century most water fountains operated using the force of gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a source of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Acting as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also provided clean, fresh drinking water. The main materials used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly illustrating animals or heroes. Muslims and Moorish landscaping designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller models of the gardens of paradise. Fountains played a considerable role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exert his power over nature. To mark the entrance of the restored Roman aqueducts, the Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries commissioned the construction of baroque style fountains in the spot where the aqueducts arrived in the city of Rome
Since indoor plumbing became the norm of the day for fresh, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely ornamental. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.
Decorating city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the uses of modern-day fountains.
An Introductory Guide to Herbs in The Garden
An Introductory Guide to Herbs in The Garden An Overview of Containers Gardening & Herbal Plants. They're incredibly painless to grow both indoors or outdoors, and offer instant gratification as you can incorporate them in a wide array of recipes including soups, marinades and sauces. Herbs are very easy to manage and often do not demand daily care, but even better you can relocate these plants indoors with the pots to guarantee they are going to be able to survive the winter weather that often tends to be cold and dangerous for all plants. Since perennial herbs do not die easily or require replanting every end of the year, they are a practical (and fun) addition to your garden. Your flavor and texture preferences in preparing food with herbs are key considerations in choosing which herbs to grow.
Give consideration to the dishes you prefer when choosing which herbs to plant in your garden. For instance, if you cook a lot of Italian food you may want to cultivate basil and oregano. If you like Latin food, choose cilantro. It is relevant to identify where your herbs will be cultivated in order to decide which herbs will thrive. If you live in a mild climate it may be much better to plant right into the ground due to the warmer winters and cool summers. This is a great way to spruce up your backyard without having the pain of buying or creating planters. Plants often perish or become inactive because of exposure to the extreme weather. As a result, many people have opted for planters because they are convenient and practical.
The Dissemination of Outdoor Fountain Design Innovation
The Dissemination of Outdoor Fountain Design Innovation Instrumental to the development of scientific technology were the printed letters and illustrated books of the day. They were also the primary means of transferring useful hydraulic facts and water fountain design suggestions throughout Europe.
A globally renowned pioneer in hydraulics in the late 1500's was a French water fountain designer, whose name has been lost to history. With Royal commissions in Brussels, London and Germany, he started his career in Italy, acquiring experience in garden design and grottoes with integrated and ingenious water features. The book, “The Principles of Moving Forces,” authored near the end of his lifetime in France, became the definitive writing on hydraulic mechanics and engineering. Describing contemporary hydraulic systems, the book furthermore modified key hydraulic developments of classical antiquity. Archimedes, the developer of the water screw, had his work showcased and these integrated a mechanized way to move water. Sunlight warmed the water in a pair of undetectable vessels adjoining to the ornamental fountain were shown in an illustration. The end result: the water fountain is activated by the heated water expanding and ascending up the piping. Models for pumps, water wheels, water features and outdoor ponds are also included in the guide.