Contemporary Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Roots
Contemporary Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Roots A fountain, an amazing piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also launch water high into the air for an extraordinary effect.The primary 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. Up to the late 19th century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and more elevated than the fountain so that gravity could make the water flow downwards or jet high into the air. Fountains were not only utilized as a water source for drinking water, but also to decorate homes and celebrate the designer who created it.
Roman fountains often depicted imagery of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. The fountains found in the Gardens of Versailles were meant to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries manufactured baroque decorative fountains to exalt the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the location where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
The end of the 19th century saw the increase in usage of indoor plumbing to supply drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to purely decorative elements. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity allowed fountains to bring recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.
Modern-day fountains serve mostly as decoration for public spaces, to honor individuals or events, and compliment entertainment and recreational events.
The Outdoor Water Features
The Outdoor Water Features Water fountains were at first practical in function, used to deliver water from rivers or creeks to cities and hamlets, supplying the inhabitants with fresh water to drink, wash, and cook with. In the years before electrical power, the spray of fountains was powered by gravity alone, usually using an aqueduct or water source located far away in the surrounding mountains. The splendor and spectacle of fountains make them appropriate for historical monuments. The contemporary fountains of modern times bear little similarity to the first water fountains. Simple stone basins crafted from local stone were the very first fountains, used for religious functions and drinking water.
The oldest stone basins are suspected to be from around 2000 BC. The spraying of water appearing from small jets was forced by gravity, the sole power source designers had in those days. Situated near reservoirs or springs, the practical public water fountains provided the local citizens with fresh drinking water. Fountains with elaborate decoration began to show up in Rome in about 6 B.C., usually gods and creatures, made with natural stone or bronze. The impressive aqueducts of Rome furnished water to the incredible public fountains, many of which you can visit today.
Your Herb Garden: An Introduction
Your Herb Garden: An Introduction Some gardeners are enticed to herbs which can easily be cultivated inside the house and out and are perfect in a wide array of cooking methods. They are effortless to grow indoors or out, and present immediate gratification when used in marinades, various recipes, sauces and soups. Herbs are very easy to manage and often do not require daily care, but even better you can move these plants in the house with the pots to assure they are going to be able to pull through the winter weather that is liable to be cold and dangerous for all plants. You can include a lot of things in your garden, including perennial herbs chiefly because they do not need replanting at the end of the year and don't perish easily. In addition, the sorts of herbs you like to cook with should affect your personal herb selection.
Basil, oregano, and thyme are great herbs to plant if you like cooking and eating Italian food. If you prefer Latin themed food, you may decide to plant cilantro instead. You must determine where your herb garden will be grown in order to figure out which herbs will mature best. If you live in a mild climate, with warm winters and relatively cool summers, it may be easiest to plant straight into the ground. This makes your yard look beautiful without the problem of making or buying planters. Plants often perish or become dormant because of exposure to the extreme weather. As a result, many people have preferred for planters because they are convenient and practical.
Discover Serenity with Garden Fountains
Discover Serenity with Garden Fountains
Water gives tranquility to your garden environment. The sounds of a fountain are perfect to block out the noise in your neighborhood or in the city where you reside. Nature and recreation are two of the things you will find in your garden. Bodies of water such as seas, oceans and rivers are commonly used in water therapies, as they are considered therapeutic. If what you seek is a calming place where you can take your body and your mind to a faraway place, set up a pond or fountain in your garden.