Posts Tagged ‘Fountain’

Fountain accessories enhance the beauty of any fountain. There are a number of basic accessories that you can use for any type of fountain. And then there are theme oriented accessories, such as nautical or tropical accessories that you could use, depending upon your personal taste. Here are some helpful tips on choosing fountain accessories. There are many varieties and styles of fountains. Fountain designs can be modern or rustic, ancient world or contemporary. Some fountains are works of art and others are based on the Feng Shui principles. Whatever the type of fountain, there are a few basic accessories that could heighten the beauty of your indoor or outdoor fountain. Pumps are essential to keep your fountain in a excellent working condition. They keep the water in the fountain clean. There are many fountain cleaning kits available that enable you to keep your fountain looking gorgeous while protecting the pump from any hurt. Lights make any fountain appear more appealing. You can choose from a variety of lights. There are colored lights, floating lights, underwater lights, accent lights, spot lights, to name just a few. Well placed lights can make the water shine and flash at different angles, increasing the attractiveness of the fountain. With all the options that are available, you can experiment with different lights till you settle on a look that you find particularly gorgeous. Foggers and misters add to the ambience surrounding the fountain. They can make the area around a fountain appear more mysterious and fascinating. Some foggers and misters even come with LED or halogen lights to increase the dramatic effect. Polished river rocks and beach glass add color to a fountain. Pebbles, small rocks and stones complement the natural look of a fountain. If you want a more exotic look, you could consider adding floating or standing statues and animal figures in your fountain. If you want a themed fountain, there are many of these available in the market. You could get fountains with nautical accessories and fountains with tropical accessories. Tropical accessories could include brightly colored tropical fish. If you have fish in your fountain, you have to regulate the water temperature and ensure that the quality of the water is excellent for the fish. For a more natural, greener look, you could place in live or artificial plants.   Flowering plants also give a small fountain an attractive look. If you add plants to your fountain, try not to place it in direct sunlight as this could promote the growth of algae. Fountains can be used to decorate your indoor and outdoor space. They can be done up to suit the décor of your home. You can decorate them as much or as small as you like. You can also be as creative as you want while choosing the fountain accessories. All you have to keep in mind is the size and style of your fountain. So let your imagination run wild while choosing fountain décor.

I need a solar powered pump for a garden fountain. There are many listed online but I’m worried of getting something of exceptionally poor quality. Does anyone have brand names or suppliers to suggest? I’d rather pay a small more and know that it will last a long time.

One of our more reputable achievements in recent years was a project in River Oaks that involved replacing a fountain that stood in the corner of the large brick wall. While only one of many elements that we added, this new corner fountain played a significant role in transforming the entire landscape. It introduced a new, more symmetrical geometry to the yard, and it helped provide a more noticeable, complimentary color contrast to that of the brick wall behind it. The existing corner fountain was a very ancient three-tiered fountain structure that was common several decades ago. This is the type of fountain you nearly always see in ancient movies. In a way it projects a certain sentimentalism about simpler, more absolutist times. But, its power as a symbol fails to convey feeling beyond simple nostalgia, and because of this its use in landscaping has long since become cliché. The ancient corner fountain had many problems on a functional level as well. It had started rusting out several years past and was now constantly malfunctioning. This was primarily because the fountain pump had been installed underwater and had started to rust out. The lighting fixtures had begun to rust out as well, and the leakage that resulted caused them to intermittently fail. There was also a problem of too much space between the fountain walls and the brick wall around the home. Weeds and excessive vegetation had overgrown the back of the fountain, and they were beginning to overshadow a excellent part of its structure. The time had come for a significant change. We therefore replaced not only the original corner fountain, but we also developed an entirely new fountain design. The new structure was shaped like rectangle whose right angles closely mirrored those of the wall behind it. The vertical walls of new fountain itself were made to slope upward on either side in a slight, inverted arc that leveled off at the top and intersected in the corner. To make a decorative color contrast, we covered most of the bricks in the front, as well as the limestone walls in the back, with a travertine coping. This gave the entire structure a soft cream color that proved a perfect complement to the red brick of the wall. Then, on both vertical walls, we installed three water spouts each and installed new fountain lights to illuminate the water from below as it fell into the basin. To add to the mystique of this experience, we also fitted the new corner fountain with a remote pump and an external filtration system that allowed it to run silently, leaving only the water itself to be heard. This also had the practical benefit of preserving the pump itself from the rust that had ruined the original one. Of course, right angles make very sharp focal points that can often clash with other elements of a landscape. In order to alleviate this and make a sense of harmony and blended aesthetic, we planted several new types of vegetation around our corner fountain. We used dwarf monkey grass and Ardesia to make ground cover. Both species do very well in shady areas, and Ardesia also offers the added benefit of erosion control and a nice green color to further compliment the colors of the wall and the fountain. To add an enhanced vertical element to the scene, we planted a Japanese maple beside the corner fountain. This is a wonderful tree to use in landscaping because it provides both ideal proportions and color. It has burgundy leaves that provide a fantastic deal of shade, but it never gets too tall. Because this property was so large, it was really landscaped with two separate patio areas in the yard. Since each patio faced either one side of the corner fountain or the other, the illuminated waterspouts dancing against a limestone backdrop became the natural focal point that drew the eye toward itself as the center of attention regardless of one’s position in the yard.

All the ones I’ve tried make more noise than the fountain, which kind of spoils the effect I want to hear water dripping on slate, not the hum of the pump. Any specific suggestions? Thanks