Contemporary Garden Decoration: Garden Fountains and their Beginnings

From the onset, outdoor fountains were soley meant to serve as functional elements. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, from aqueducts or springs in the vicinity. Used until the 19th century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their origin of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from gravity. Fountains were an optimal source of water, and also served to decorate living areas and celebrate the artist. Roman fountains often depicted imagery of animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners included fountains to create smaller variations of the gardens of paradise. The fountains seen in the Gardens of Versailles were supposed to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to exalt their positions by adding decorative baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.
The end of the 19th century saw the rise in usage of indoor plumbing to supply drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for beautiful water displays.
Modern-day fountains serve mostly as decoration for community spaces, to honor individuals or events, and compliment entertainment and recreational events.
The Positive Benefits of installing a Water Feature in Your Living Area
The Positive Benefits of installing a Water Feature in Your Living Area You can improve your exterior space by adding a wall fountain or an outdoor garden water feature to your property or gardening project. Historical fountains and water features have sparked the interest of modern-day designers as well as fountain manufacturers. Therefore, in order to link your home to previous times, add one these in your home decor. The advantage of having a garden fountain extends beyond its beauty as it also appeals to birds and other wildlife, in addition to harmonizing the ecosystem with the water and moisture it emits into the atmosphere.
Spouting or cascading fountains are not the best alternative for a small backyard since they require a great deal of space. There are two types of fountains to pick from including the freestanding model with a flat back and an attached basin set up against a fence or a wall in your yard, or the wall-mounted, self-contained version which is suspended directly on a wall. Both a fountain mask located on the existing wall as well as a basin located at the bottom to collect the water are equired if you wish to add a fountain. Since the plumbing and masonry work is substantial to complete this type of job, you should employ a professional to do it rather than try to do it alone.