| Garden-fountains are provocative. They can be | | | | around the edge of a garden-fountain make a |
| as noisy as a cascading waterfall or as | | | | naturalistic coping for gardens that have a |
| serene as a water lily sitting on its | | | | woodsy, informal look. Bricks or fieldstones |
| surface. It might be a playfully bubbling | | | | laid in a pattern give a more formal effect. |
| garden-fountain or a mysterious black pool | | | | |
| reflecting the silver moon. Its moods are | | | | Some people keep their small pools simple and |
| elusive as it ripples, rushes, gurgles, | | | | unadorned. Others add motion with a small jet |
| splashes, drips, leaps, babbles, trickles, | | | | garden-fountain placed on the bottom to spurt |
| roars or simply lies still and quiet. | | | | water into the air anywhere from a few inches |
| | | | to many feet. A small "bubbler fountain" |
| Some admirers think water is as compelling as | | | | might take the form of a lead water lily with |
| fire and a lot easier to control. Water can | | | | a hidden jet that bubbles the water over the |
| be introduced into the garden in a variety of | | | | leaf and into the basin or pool. Water |
| ways, ranging from simple birdbaths and small | | | | lilies, some powerfully scented, others with |
| fishponds to lavish garden-fountains and | | | | huge fanciful leaves, add floral interest. |
| ambitious manmade waterfalls. | | | | Fish add color and keep the water clean, |
| | | | while statues and underwater lights increase |
| Getting Started Planning a Stunning | | | | the pool's beauty. |
| Garden-Fountain | | | | |
| | | | Installing a rock garden with a small garden |
| The quickest way to introduce the | | | | fountain and waterfall or perhaps a small, |
| garden-fountain into the landscape is to set | | | | trickling stream is a huge project. The most |
| out a simple concrete birdbath. This | | | | common mistake is to try to set the waterfall |
| immediately brings a bit of reflection to the | | | | in the middle of a flat lawn. The result |
| landscape, and it adds action and life as | | | | usually looks like a guard tower at the local |
| birds begin splashing and flickering around | | | | prison. A two foot gradual slope is a much |
| their newly found source of fresh water. This | | | | more natural solution. To get some unique |
| is especially so during dry periods, when | | | | waterfall design ideas visit |
| birds are desperately looking for a drink. A | | | | |
| small pump may be added to create the | | | | It is also difficult to get a man-made stream |
| garden-fountain effect. For more ideas on | | | | to look natural. Rocks that create rivulets |
| garden-fountains visit | | | | and hide any necessary pumps must be |
| | | | strategically but naturally placed, a tough |
| The next step up might be a small, wall-hung | | | | balance to find and difficult to change once |
| fountain of manmade materials that mimic lead | | | | the heavy rocks are placed. In some instances |
| or stone, or the real thing at a considerably | | | | contractors have to bring in rocks by crane. |
| higher price. These might take the form of a | | | | |
| lion's head or a gargoyle that spouts water | | | | Different Designs of Water Pools and |
| out of its mouth into a basin below. | | | | Garden-Fountains |
| | | | |
| Small Pools Offer Charm as a Garden-Fountain | | | | The design of any water feature should echo |
| | | | the general theme of the garden. Gardens with |
| At some point, almost every gardener hankers | | | | a Spanish or Middle Eastern look lend |
| for a small garden-fountain pool. There are | | | | themselves to a long, straight tile-lined |
| several ways to go. Those with a limited | | | | channel of water a few inches deep that ends |
| budget or very small space can try a half | | | | in a small fountain jet or a piece of |
| whiskey barrel. Fill it with water and add | | | | statuary. Informal gardens call for |
| one small water lily, one small bog plant, a | | | | naturalistic features, such as an irregularly |
| bunch of submerged grasses to help keep the | | | | shaped pool in the middle of a fern glade or |
| algae down so the water will remain clear, | | | | a water bog for plants that thrive in |
| and a pair of fantail fish to keep the water | | | | wetlands. Formal gardens look best with lead |
| moving and free of insects. A garden fountain | | | | or concrete garden-fountains and symmetrical |
| can be installed to the pool for added drama. | | | | pools. Japanese gardens are a natural setting |
| | | | for streams, reflecting pools, small lakes |
| Ideally a garden-fountain should be situated | | | | (depending on the size of the property) and |
| in the sun. Shade tends to lead to moss and | | | | "dry water" features such as "streams" of |
| algae on stone, cement, and bricks, and | | | | river rocks or gravel raked in patterns to |
| nearby trees drop their leaves into the pond | | | | simulate waves. |
| every fall. Rocks and plants placed at random | | | | |