Anglo-Saxon Gardens at the Time of the Norman Conquest
Anglo-Saxon Gardens at the Time of the Norman Conquest The introduction of the Normans in the 2nd half of the eleventh century irreparably improved The Anglo-Saxon lifestyle. At the time of the conquest, the Normans surpassed the Anglo-Saxons in building design and cultivation. But there was no time for home life, domestic architecture, and decoration until the Normans had conquered the whole realm. Because of this, castles were cruder constructions than monasteries: Monasteries were often important stone buildings located in the biggest and most fertile valleys, while castles were erected on windy crests where their residents devoted time and space to tasks for offense and defense. Gardening, a placid occupation, was unfeasible in these fruitless fortifications. Berkeley Castle is possibly the most complete model in existence at present of the early Anglo-Norman form of architecture. The keep is said to date from William the Conqueror's time period. As a strategy of deterring attackers from tunneling within the walls, an immense terrace encircles the building. A scenic bowling green, covered in grass and surrounded by battlements clipped out of an ancient yew hedge, creates one of the terraces.The First Modern Outdoor Wall Fountains
The First Modern Outdoor Wall Fountains Pope Nicholas V, himself a learned man, ruled the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 to 1455 during which time he commissioned many translations of ancient classical Greek documents into Latin. Embellishing Rome and making it the worthy capital of the Christian world was at the heart of his ambitions. Restoration of the Acqua Vergine, a ruined Roman aqueduct which had transported clean drinking water into the city from eight miles away, began in 1453 at the bidding of the Pope. The historical Roman custom of marking the arrival point of an aqueduct with an imposing celebratory fountain, also known as a mostra, was restored by Nicholas V. At the bidding of the Pope, architect Leon Battista Alberti began the construction of a wall fountain in the spot where we now find the Trevi Fountain. The aqueduct he had refurbished included modifications and extensions which eventually allowed it to supply water to the Trevi Fountain as well as the renowned baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and the Piazza Navona.A Solar Energy Powered Outdoor Fountain
A Solar Energy Powered Outdoor Fountain Are you seeking the perfect piece to enhance your home? Well, think about adding elegance and value to your residence by installing a solar powered water fountain. Solar powered water features can be a better investment versus electric ones because they not only improve one's health but they offer other interesting monetary perks. While your initial expenditures may be higher, the long-term savings are worthwhile. Because your fountain will not be fueled by electrical energy, there will be no need to be concerned about any power outages.Running water fountains will lead to a spike in your electric bill. Keep in mind that while you may not see any rewards right away, your home will be worth more down the road.
Spending more money on our electric bills is not the only downside - the environment is highly affected too. Becoming “green” is just one of the pros of setting up a solar water fountain running only on the power of the sun. Using solar power to run a water feature is not only worthwhile to our environment but it also heats and cools our homes.
Less maintenance is a result of installing this kind of fountain. Since solar fountains don't have motors, they don't get clogged which leads to little cleaning. And because there is little cleaning to do, you will have more time to enjoy yourself!