Contemporary Garden Decor: Large Outdoor Water Fountains and their Roots

The central purpose of a fountain was originally strictly practical. Water fountains were connected to a spring or aqueduct to provide potable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be higher and closer to a water supply, including aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to take advantage of gravity which fed the fountains. Serving as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also provided clean, fresh drinking water. Roman fountains usually depicted imagery of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks. Muslims and Moorish landscaping designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller versions of the gardens of paradise. King Louis XIV of France wanted to illustrate his dominion over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to laud their positions by adding beautiful baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.

Since indoor plumbing became the standard 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 decorative. Impressive water effects and recycled water were made possible by switching the power of gravity with mechanical pumps.

These days, fountains adorn public areas and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.

The One Cleaning Solution to NEVER Use On Your Fountains

Every 3-4 months, garden fountains should go through a good cleaning. The initial step is to empty out all the water. When you have done this, scrub inside the water reservoir with a mild detergent. If there is intricate artwork, you might need to use a toothbrush for those hard-to-reach areas. Make sure all the soap is properly rinsed off.

Some organisms and calcium deposits can get inside the pump, so it is best to take it apart and clean it thoroughly. Soaking it in vinegar for a bit will make it easier to scrub. If you want to remove build-up in your fountain, use rain water or mineral water versus tap water, as these don’t contain any elements that might stick to the inside of the pump.

One final tip for keeping your fountain in top working shape is to check the water level every day and make sure it is full. Allowing the water to go below the pump’s intake level, can cause severe damage and even make the pump burn out - an undesired outcome!

The Many Construction Materials of Large Garden Fountains

Today, many people elect copper for their sculptural garden fountains. Copper is common for both inside and outside use and is widely found in tabletop and cascade fountains, among others. Another advantage of copper fountains is they are versatile and come in a wide assortment of styles.

Also common, brass fountains typically have a more old-fashioned style to them versus their copper counterpart. Though not the most stylish, the creatures and sculptural features you find on fountains are commonly made of brass, thus making them very popular.

Probably the most modern of all metals is stainless steel. If you choose a cutting-edge steel design, both the value and tranquility of your garden will get a nice bump. Just like other water features, they come in an array of sizes.

Fiberglass fountains are popular because they look similar to metal but are more affordable and much less cumbersome to move around. The cleaning of fiberglass water fountains is quite simple, so they have many advantages that people appreciate.

The Original Water Fountain Designers