Contemporary Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Beginnings
Contemporary Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Beginnings The amazing or ornamental effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, as well as providing drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property.
From the beginning, outdoor fountains were simply meant to serve as functional elements. Inhabitants of urban areas, townships and small towns used 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. Used until the nineteenth century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their source of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from the power of gravity. Acting as an element of adornment and celebration, fountains also generated clean, fresh drinking water. Roman fountains often depicted imagery of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks. Muslims and Moorish garden 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 superiority over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries manufactured baroque decorative fountains to glorify the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the location where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
Indoor plumbing became the main source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby limiting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. The creation of unique water effects and the recycling of water were 2 things made possible by replacing gravity with mechanical pumps.
Modern-day fountains serve mostly as decoration for public spaces, to honor individuals or events, and enhance entertainment and recreational gatherings.
Keeping Your Outdoor Garden Fountain Clean
Keeping Your Outdoor Garden Fountain Clean It is important to carefully maintain water fountains for them to work properly. Leaves, twigs, and bugs often find their way into fountains, so it is vital to keep yours free from such things. Additionally, anywhere light from the sun mixes with still water, algae can appear. Either sea salt, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar can be dissolved into the water to eliminate this problem. Another option is to mix bleach into the water, but this action can sicken wild animals and so should really be avoided.
No more than three-four months should really go by without an extensive cleaning of a fountain. Before you can start washing it you need to empty out all of the water. Next use gentle and a soft sponge to clean the interior of the reservoir. If there is intricate artwork, you might need to use a toothbrush for those hard-to-reach areas. Do not leave any soap residue in or on the fountain.
Make sure you get rid of any calcium or plankton by taking the pump apart and cleaning the inside thoroughly. To make it less difficult, soak it in vinegar overnight before cleaning. Build-up can be a big problem, so use mineral or rain water over tap water, when possible, to eliminate this dilemma.
Finally, be sure to have a quick look at your fountain daily and add water if you notice that the level is too low. Allowing the water level to get too low can result in damage to the pump - and you certainly do not want that!