Contemporary Garden Decor: Outdoor Fountains and their Beginnings
Contemporary Garden Decor: Outdoor Fountains and their Beginnings The incredible architecture of a fountain allows it to provide clean water or shoot water high into air for dramatic effect and it can also serve as an excellent design feature to complement your home.The main purpose of a fountain was originally strictly practical. Inhabitants of cities, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash up, which meant that fountains had to be connected to nearby aqueduct or spring. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be higher and closer to a water source, including aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to take advantage of gravity which fed the fountains.
Fountains were an excellent source of water, and also served to adorn living areas and memorialize the designer. Roman fountains often depicted images of animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks. Muslims and Moorish landscaping designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller models of the gardens of paradise. King Louis XIV of France wanted to demonstrate his dominion over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains constructed to mark the arrival points of Roman aqueducts.
Urban fountains made at the end of the 19th century served only as decorative and celebratory adornments since indoor plumbing provided the essential drinking water. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity enabled fountains to deliver recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.
Nowadays, fountains adorn public areas and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
Your Herb Container Garden: The Basics
Your Herb Container Garden: The Basics A lot of gardeners see that they are drawn to learning more about herbs as they are painless to grow and fun to use in cooking. You will obtain immediate gratification when you grow natural herbs in the garden as they can be employed in cooking sauces, soups, marinades and a number of other recipes. While you may believe you have to get out and prune daily with an herb garden this is not accurate, but even better you can keep it going all year long by moving your pots indoors in the fall. Since perennial herbal plants don't die easily or need replanting every end of the year, they are a practical (and fun) addition to your garden. Over and above this, you should really consider your personal taste preferences when choosing herbs to flavor dinners. Give consideration to the dishes you desire when selecting 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, select cilantro. You must choose where your herb garden will be planted in order to figure out which herbs will grow best. It may be easier to plant right into the soil if you live in a place that has warmer winters and cooler summers. This makes your back yard look stunning without the trouble of making or buying planters. Plants often perish or become inactive because of being exposed to the extreme weather. As a result, many people have opted for planters because they are flexible and practical.
Installation and Maintenance of Outdoor Fountains
Installation and Maintenance of Outdoor Fountains A vital first step before installing any outdoor wall feature is to think about the room you have available. It will need a strong wall to support its overall weight. Therefore for smaller areas or walls, a more lightweight feature is going to be more appropriate. You will need to have an electrical plug in proximity to the fountain so it can be powered. Since there are many varieties of outdoor wall fountains, installation procedures vary, but the majority include user-friendly instructions. The typical outdoor wall feature is available in an easy-to-use kit that comes with everything you need and more to properly install it. In the kit you are going to find all the needed essentials: a submersible pump, hoses and basin, or reservoir. Depending on its size, the basin can normally be hidden quite easily amongst the plants. Since outdoor wall fountains require little attention, the only thing left to do is clean it regularly.
Change the water regularly so it is always clean. Remember to get rid of debris like leaves, twigs or dirt as quickly as possible. Protecting your outdoor wall fountain from the cold winter temperatures is vital. In order to avoid any damage, such as cracking, from freezing water during the cold winter months, relocate your pump indoors. All in all, an outdoor wall fountain can last for any number of years with the right upkeep and care.