Contemporary Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Beginnings
Contemporary Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Beginnings
A water fountain is an architectural piece that pours water into a basin or jets it high into the air in order to supply drinking water, as well as for decorative purposes. Originally, fountains only served a functional purpose. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to supply them with drinking water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Up until the nineteenth, fountains had to be higher and closer to a water supply, such as aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to take advantage of gravity which fed the fountains. Fountains were not only used as a water source for drinking water, but also to decorate homes and celebrate the artist who created it. The main materials used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly depicting animals or heroes. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to re-create the gardens of paradise. Fountains enjoyed a considerable role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exert his power over nature. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were glorified with baroque style fountains constructed to mark the arrival points of Roman aqueducts.
Urban fountains built at the end of the nineteenth served only as decorative and celebratory adornments since indoor plumbing provided the essential drinking water. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity helped fountains to bring recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.
Modern fountains are used to embellish community spaces, honor individuals or events, and enhance recreational and entertainment events.
The Grace of Simple Garden Decor: The Large Garden Fountains
The Grace of Simple Garden Decor: The Large Garden Fountains It is also feasible to place your garden water fountain near a wall since they do not need to be hooked to a nearby pond. Moreover, it is no longer necessary to dig, deal with a difficult installation procedure or tidy up the pond. Due to its self-contained nature, this feature no longer requires plumbing work. However, water needs to be added consistently.
Drain the water from the basin and add fresh water whenever the surrounding area is dirty. Any number of materials can be used to make garden wall fountains, but stone and metal are the most practical. The style you are looking for dictates which material is most appropriate to meet your needs. It is best to shop for garden wall fountains which are easy to install, handmade and lightweight. Be sure that your fountain is manageable as far as upkeep is concerned. The re-circulating pump and hanging hardware are normally the only parts which need additional care in most installations, although there may be some cases in which the setup is a bit more complex. You can effortlessly liven up your garden with these kinds of fountains.
Keeping Your Garden Water fountain Tidy
Keeping Your Garden Water fountain Tidy Adequate care and regular maintenance are important to the longevity of water fountains. A common concern with fountains is that they tend to accumulate dirt and debris, so it is vital that you keep it free from this. Another factor is that water that is exposed to sunlight is prone to growing algae. Either sea salt, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar can be dissolved into the water to eliminate this issue. There are those who choose to use bleach, but that is dangerous to any animals that might drink or bathe in the water - so should therefore be avoided. Experts recommend that the typical garden fountain undergoes a thorough scrubbing every three-four months. Before you can start cleaning it you need to empty out all of the water. Then use a soft rag and mild cleanser to scrub the inside. Feel free to use a toothbrush if helpful for any smaller crevasses. Be sure to completely rinse the interior of the fountain to make sure all the soap is gone.
Calcium and fresh water organisms could get inside the pump, so you should disassemble it to get it truly clean. You might want to let it soak in vinegar for a few hours to make it much less difficult to clean. Mineral or rain water, versus tap water, is ideal in order to prevent any build-up of chemicals inside the pump.
And finally, make sure the water level is always full in order to keep your fountain running optimally. Allowing the water to drop below the pump’s intake level, can cause serious damage and even make the pump burn out - an undesired outcome!