Water features can be a soothing addition to any landscape.
A water feature can add a finishing touch to any garden landscape. More than just an attractive focal point, a water feature can add the soothing sounds of running water and give you a sense of relaxation. The water also attracts and sustains birds and other wildlife. The range of water features makes it easy to find one that fits your garden or yard. Does this Spark an idea?
Natural Pond
A natural pond blends into a casual landscape design.
A natural pond looks as if it had been created by nature and not by man. The beauty of the natural pond is its flexibility: it can be any shape and size and be adapted to any landscape. Construct it using natural materials such as rocks and surround it with plants to create a seamless landscape design. Its natural appearance blends in with trees, shrubs and other plants, and creates an element of surprise for visitors walking through your garden or yard.
Natural ponds can also attract birds and small animals in any season and can be stocked with fish, such as Koi carp. A pump should be installed to circulate the water.
Bird Bath Fountains
A bird bath fountain will circulate the water to keep the bird bath from growing stagnant.
Bird bath fountains look like ordinary bird baths, but they have a pump that circulates the water and creates a miniature fountain effect in the center. Most require only an electric connection to run the pump. Some models are solar-powered, using energy from the sun to power the pump.The bird baths also come in a variety of materials from concrete and iron to brass and resin.
Bird bath fountains can be installed anywhere: in a flower garden, on the edge of a porch, or on a patio. Like the natural pond, this water feature will draw birds, which are attracted to the sound of running water.
Garden Fountains
Capture some Old World elegance with a fountain.
Give your garden an elegant feel and a focal point with a classic, tiered garden fountain. Though resin, bronze and fiberglass fountains are available, install a limestone fountain for an Old World atmosphere. These fountains are similar to those seen in gardens across Europe; their tiers often are sculpted with images of animals and cherubs, and have a textured style. The fountain will, by nature, become weathered and worn, but unlike many modern designs, the Old World style is suited to aging. Garden fountains need a pump to circulate their water.
Container fountains
Container fountains can come in a number of different shapes and sizes.
Container fountains are typically made of glazed ceramic or terracotta pots, and are so easy to construct that they can be a weekend project. One design calls for a partially tipped container, fed by a sunken reservoir and powered by a pump, to pour water over a mass of natural stones at its base.
If large enough, container fountains can retain their original function as planters with the addition of a water lily or aquatic plant. Since glazed pots and other containers come in different sizes, it's not hard to find one that will fit the site you've chosen. Container fountains not only work well in the garden, but at the corner of a porch or patio, bringing the relaxing sound of running water right up to the house.
Tags: Container fountains, natural pond, running water, water feature, your garden, your garden yard