Contemporary Garden Decor: Outdoor Fountains and their Roots
Contemporary Garden Decor: Outdoor Fountains and their Roots
From the onset, outdoor fountains were soley meant to serve as functional elements. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to supply them with potable water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be more elevated and closer to a water source, including aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to take advantage of gravity which fed the fountains. Serving as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also generated clean, fresh drinking water. Roman fountains often depicted images of animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks. Muslims and Moorish garden designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller versions of the gardens of paradise. Fountains enjoyed a considerable role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exert his power over nature. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries created baroque decorative fountains to glorify the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the spot where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
Indoor plumbing became the main source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby restricting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Impressive water effects and recycled water were made possible by replacing the power of gravity with mechanical pumps.
Decorating city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the uses of modern-day fountains.
The One Cleaning Solution to NEVER Use On Your Wall fountains

Experts suggest that the typical garden fountain undergoes a thorough cleaning every three-four months. Before you can start washing it you must drain out all of the water. As soon as it is empty, clean inside the reservoir with a mild cleanser. If there is delicate artwork, you might need to use a toothbrush for those hard-to-reach areas. Be sure to carefully rinse the interior of the fountain to make sure all the soap is gone.
It is highly recommended taking the pump apart to better clean the inside and get rid of any plankton or calcium. Soaking it in vinegar for a while will make it easier to wash. If you want to minimize build-up in your fountain, use rain water or mineral water rather than tap water, as these don’t contain any components that will stick to the inside of the pump.
One final recommendation for keeping your fountain in top working shape is to check the water level every day and make sure it is full. Allowing the water to go below the pump’s intake level, can cause major damage and even make the pump burn out - an undesired outcome!
Outside Garden Fountains Hydro-Statics 101
Outside Garden Fountains Hydro-Statics 101 All liquids in a state of equilibrium exert energy on the materials it comes in contact with. The force used falls into one of two categories: external force or hydrostatic energy.