Great Garden Fountains

Relaxing Water Features for Home and Garden

Archive for category Garden Water Fountains

Garden Water Fountains and Feng Shui

Nov 17

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- Creating positive life forces and harmony for your surroundings with the age-old concepts of Feng Shui

Feng Shui Fountain

Feng Shui Fountain

“Feng Shui” is a system of arranging things for optimal within your environment to ensure a peaceful, beneficial, and elevating environment. Water is one of the five primary elements of Feng Shui. In fact, the Chinese term Feng Shui can be loosely translated as “wind and water”. Because water possesses both qualities, an outdoor water feature is a crucial element when using the principles of Feng Shui. Many individuals select a fountain with an Asian theme such as a bamboo fountain. Yet, a traditional Western fountain will do the job just as well.

Materials found in nature such as slate, stone, bamboo, wood, and copper are all complementary to the basic concepts of Feng Shui. In particular, a bamboo fountain merges water and wood energy. Tranquil Zen fountains made from a slab of marble combined with metal are modest, representing the sense of serenity and equilibrium. They are available as both freestanding and wall mounted fountains. Whatever style you choose, be sure that the water in your garden fountain is always clean, adequately supplied and free of debris.

When evaluating your garden, it is essential to take into account that in Feng Shui, every part of the space relate to a symbolic importance. There are numerous different implementations of Feng Shui. However, they all include some type of template that partitions the space into separate areas that affect one’s life. These include such factors as friends, fame, love, wealth, health, and more. In positioning a garden fountain, said to facilitate the flow of qi (life energy), the most favorable placement would be in the southeast, east, or north portions of your garden.

Rounded objects are preferred in Feng Shui, so water fountains with curved basins and those featuring a sphere or orb are outstanding selections. There are many lovely water fountains made with a succession of pottery or earthenware containers that spill water into each other, which enables qi to both circulate and accumulate. Stone statuary of birds, frogs, or meditating figures also may enhance symbolism to encourage longevity, health, wealth, or luck.

Many gardens can benefit from having a soothing fountain planned with Feng Shui principles in mind. Large wall mounted fountains, petite tabletop fountains, bamboo fountains, Zen garden fountains, and traditional garden fountains can all contribute to soothing and revitalizing the positive energy flow in your garden surroundings.

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Waterfalls-and-Fountains

Nov 9

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Fountains come in all shapes and sizes based on the desired water pattern. Perhaps the most common fountain pattern is that which is called the “umbrella” pattern. By its name alone you can guess the ultimate water pattern created by this design as it mimics the appearance of a rain umbrella. Basically it is a circular area that is populated by water droplets primarily around its outside perimeter. The inside of the circle area also gets activity but less than the outside perimeter edge. In essence the “umbrella” pattern or style is beautiful to view and it has outstanding functionality in breaking down any floating debris in its path.

Another type of fountain nozzle creates a “rocket” expression. Basically this specific display shoots a great deal of water straight up into the air and is quite a visual site. The”rocket” pattern is not as effective as its counterpart the “umbrella” in breaking down surface matter, yet its height and acoustical sounds are truly outstanding. Many fountain enthusiasts choose the “rocket” because of how impressive it looks and because it becomes a magnet for all passers by.

There is a “waterfall” pattern which basically is a modified “umbrella” pattern. In simple terms the “waterfall” has a smoother arc pattern after the water droplets leave the nozzle. Of course the nozzle is designed to create the “waterfall” pattern by its precision milled grooves and holes. As the water droplets begin to be pulled by gravity to the water surface there is an arc to each of the water droplets that begins to develop thus creating the overall “waterfall” pattern.

The Fountains and Waterfalls enthusiast should keep in mind that wind elements must be factored into any nozzle or fountain head selection. The reason for this is the fact that “wind” or heavy “breezes” will affect your fountain pattern and create havoc with it so please heed the concern. Most affected by wind is the “rocket” pattern since it is simply one steady stream in which the wind can affect from all angles. The “umbrella” or “waterfall” patterns are protected somewhat from the wind due to their blanket type patterns.

Fountains provide an excellent source of surface aeration for the enthusiast.
Surface aeration assists the pond or lake bed in breaking down various debris and unwanted matter. This is very important especially in a lake or pond whereby leaves, sticks and small debris can accumulate and make the water environment appear unhealthy. “Fountains-and-Waterfalls” can assist greatly in diminishing the unsightly surface algae which grows from within the water. Typically fountains run 24/7 and the algae can appear to simply vanish while the fountain is running. The fountain can also alleviate long term algae by aeration. The word “aeration” simply means to inject air into the water and is a positive addition to any water application. Aeration helps to create a healthy environment for both fish and amphibians.

Please consider fountains and waterfalls in any water project.

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Maintenance Tips for Garden Water Fountains

Oct 2

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Gardens around the world are beginning to sprout beauty through features other than flowers, shrubs and trees. Take a peek at some of the nicer backyard gardens and you will likely find a wide variety of garden water fountains enhancing their designs.

With the gift-giving season approaching, many garden lovers will be receiving their first garden fountain this year. Garden water fountains make wonderful gifts at any time of year. They are beautiful to view and are available in a wide range of styles that blend with any type of landscape design.  They are very serene and the sound of gently flowing water has an amazing calming effect.

If you are giving, or receiving, an outdoor garden fountain this year, here are a few maintenance tips you may find helpful:

Avoid Ice Build-Up In Your Garden Fountain

Avoid Ice Build-Up In Your Garden Fountain

– If winter temperatures in your area often drop below the freezing point you should be aware of potential problems with expansion and contraction of the fountain’s materials and connections. These days, many outdoor fountains are light enough to be moved indoors during the winter months – a good feature to look for when shopping for a garden fountain in colder climes.

– If the fountain is too large or heavy to move indoors, be sure to drain the fountain before cold weather strikes. In addition, make periodic inspections to ensure that water is not collecting in the fountain as a result of rain or melting snow. When water freezes, the expansion of the ice may cause cracks to appear in your fountain. For proof, just take a look at the potholes that appear in roads over the winter.

– If the fountain will remain outside during the winter you should also remove the pump and store it inside to avoid damage. Wrap your fountain with an old blanket, towels or other absorbent material. Then cover with a plastic tarp or a similar protective cover to help shield it from water and cold temperatures.

– As warmth returns, make sure you thoroughly clean the fountain, removing any leaves, twigs, and similar debris that may have accumulated. Throughout the spring, summer and fall, get in the habit of checking the fountain for debris at least weekly. Pay particular attention to the pump’s inlet area so that foreign objects do not result in clogging.

– To keep your fountain clean and free from algae growth, add an animal-friendly cleaner  to the water. Adding beneficial bacteria and enzyme products such as Algae Fix or barley straw extract should be effective. Even if pets will not have access to the pond water it’s important to use non-poisonous cleaning products as your fountain will undoubtedly be visited by birds and other wildlife.

Taking just a few simple maintenance steps will help keep your outdoor fountain in great shape for many years, providing countless hours of serenity and relaxation in your garden.

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Enhance Your Garden by Adding a Water Fountain

Sep 18

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by Jim Navary

Garden Wall Fountain

Garden Wall Fountain

A great way to spice up your garden is to add a relaxing water feature. These can be both soothing and aesthetically appealing. I’ve found that there’s nothing more relaxing than sitting on a bench in my garden and listening to my fountain while I read a good book or watch the birds. Installing a water feature is fairly easy, relatively inexpensive, and will add immensely to the atmosphere of your garden.

Usually, people install garden water fountains for the natural ambience it provides. For some reason, being around a beautiful scene featuring water gives you a positive energy. This is also good if you practice Tai Chi or some form of yoga or meditation. The continual sound of the water is exactly what most people need to concentrate on what they are doing. Simply being in a garden with a water fountain has a sort of meditative quality to it, even if you’re not trying to do so. I recommend it to anyone.

When you first decide to put in a fountain, you need to very particular about selecting one that will go well with the rest of your garden. If you have any other decorations, you want to consider if it goes well with your motif. Does the fountain you’re considering stand out in your garden like a sore thumb, or does it look like it was meant to be there? Are the lines of your garden angular or rounded? An ornate fountain may not be the best choice for a garden with a contemporary design. Likewise, a modernistic rectangular waterfall fountain could really clash with a Victorian inspired garden.

When I installed my fountain I encountered a slight problem with supplying my fountain with power. You see, my garden isn’t very close to my house. I thought it would look pretty tacky to run an extension cord across my yard, so I had to come up with another solution. I discussed my situation with a Home Depot employee, and he quickly

Arroz Three Jug Fountain

Arroz Three Jug Fountain

found me the exact solution I needed: an extension cord meant for being buried! All it took was a few hours of digging a small trench across my yard, and I had power to my fountain without an unsightly cord running across my yard. After I got over this little hitch, my fountain plan went beautifully. Another great option is to select a solar powered garden fountain. This eliminates the power issue completely.

So if you’re looking for a way to give your garden a soothing and beautiful place to be, I hope you consider installing a fountain. The whole process is surprisingly inexpensive, and I think that you will be very happy with the results. Having a fountain in your garden is not only soothing, but it also adds a lot of character to an otherwise bland garden. Remember, gardens are not just for growing vegetables or flowers. A garden is a place to go when you want to retreat from the outside world and quietly lose yourself in your own thoughts

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