Water Features
Cabot Vermont
Outdoor Elegance: Wall fountains
These days you can just place your garden water fountain close to a wall since they no longer need to be connected to a pond. Nowadays, you can eliminate digging, difficult installations and cleaning the pond. Plumbing is no longer a necessity since this feature in now self-sufficient.
Remember, however, to add water at regular intervals. Your pond and the surrounding area are certain to get dirty at some point so be sure to empty the water from the basin and replace it with clean water. Any number of materials can be used to build garden wall fountains, but stone and metal are the most practical. Identifying the style you wish for indicates the best material to use. It is important to purchase hand-crafted, light garden wall features which are also easy to put up. Ensure that your water feature is manageable as far as maintenance is concerned. The re-circulating pump and hanging hardware are normally the only parts which need extra care in most installations, although there may be some cases in which the installation is a bit more intricate. It is very easy to spruce up your yard with these styles of fountains.
The Wide Array of Designs of Wall Water Fountains
Wall fountains are well suited to little patios or yards because they do not require too much space while also adding a touch of flair and providing a great place to find peace and quiet. The myriad of styles in outdoor wall fountains, including traditional, classic, contemporary, or Asian, means that you can find the one suitable to your tastes. While there are innumerable prefabricated ones on the market, you may need a customized fountain if none of these are pleasing to you.The two kinds of water features available to you are mounted and stand-alone models. Mounted wall fountains are small and self-contained versions which can be displayed on a wall. Ordinarily made of resin (to resemble stone) or fiber glass, these sorts of fountains are lightweight and easy to hang. Large-sized free-standing wall fountains, often referred to as floor fountains, have their basins located on the floor and a flat side leaning on a wall. Water features such as these are ordinarily made of cast stone and have no weight limits.
It is a good idea to incorporate a custom-made fountain into a new or existing wall, something often recommended by landscape experts. Employing an expert mason is your best option to construct the basin and install the required plumbing. A fountain mask or a spout also needs to be incorporated into the wall. A custom-built wall fountain blends into the landscape instead of standing out because it was a later addition, which contributes to a cohesive look.
Aspects of Garden Statuary in Archaic Greece
The Archaic Greeks manufactured the first freestanding statuary, an awesome achievement as most sculptures up until then had been reliefs cut into walls and pillars. Kouros figures, statues of young, handsome male or female (kore) Greeks, made up the greater part of the sculptures. The kouroi were believed by the Greeks to typify beauty and were sculpted with one foot leading and an uncompromising stiffness to their forward-facing poses; the male statues were always strapping, sinewy, and unclothed. In 650 BC, life-sized variations of the kouroi began to be observed. The Archaic period was an extraordinary time of change for the Greeks as they grew into new modes of government, produced fresh expressions of art, and achieved knowledge of the men and women and cultures outside of Greece. During this time and other times of historic tumultuousness, encounters often took place, among them battles fought between city-states such as the Arcadian wars and the Spartan infiltration of Samos.Keep Your Fountain Tidy
Proper care and regular maintenance are important to the longevity of water fountains. Leaves, twigs, and insects often find their way into fountains, so it is essential to keep yours free from such debris. Another factor is that water that is exposed to sunlight is vulnerable to growing algae. To avoid this, take vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or sea salt and add straight into the water. There are those who like to use bleach, but that is hazardous to any animals that might drink or bathe in the water - so should therefore be avoided. Experts suggest that the typical garden fountain undergoes a thorough scouring every 3-4 months. The initial task is to empty out all the water. Then use a soft rag and mild cleanser to scrub the inside. If there are any little grooves, grab a toothbrush to get each and every spot. Be sure to completely rinse the interior of the fountain to make sure all the soap is gone.
Some organisms and calcium deposits may get inside the pump, so it is recommended to take it apart and clean it thoroughly. To make it less difficult, soak it in vinegar for several hours before cleaning. Build-up can be a big hassle, so use mineral or rain water over tap water, when possible, to reduce this dilemma.
And finally, make sure the water level is consistently full in order to keep your fountain working optimally. Permitting the water level to get too low can result in damage to the pump - and you certainly don't want that!
Contemporary Garden Decor: Fountains and their Roots
The dramatic or decorative effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, in addition to providing drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property.Originally, fountains only served a practical purpose. Residents of cities, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash, which meant that fountains needed to be linked to nearby aqueduct or spring. Up to the late 19th century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and higher than the fountain so that gravity could make the water flow down or jet high into the air. Acting as an element of adornment and celebration, fountains also supplied clean, fresh drinking water. The main components used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly illustrating animals or heroes. Throughout the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners included fountains to create mini variations 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 created baroque decorative fountains to glorify the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the spot where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
Indoor plumbing became the key source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby limiting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Impressive water effects and recycled water were made possible by switching the force of gravity with mechanical pumps.
Modern-day fountains serve mostly as decoration for public spaces, to honor individuals or events, and enhance entertainment and recreational activities.