“Nothing says you’ve arrived like a porcelain fountain”
Great comedy skit from NBC Saturday Night Live:)
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Garden waterfalls can be great objects that provide beauty to your garden homes. The basic requirement is that they have to be constructed with care. In many cases the waterfalls end up collapsing. In most cases the stones used are of incorrect specifications. Another common defect noticed is that the waterfalls are constructed in unnatural surroundings and are not in proportion to the size of the pool. This results with incorrect amount of water flowing into the waterfalls. A major issue can be, getting the water to flow over the stones and not under it. Unless correct planning and preparation is done the construction of garden waterfalls can be quite challenging.
Water should flow into the garden waterfalls giving you the right sound as well as visual effects. Normally the water will flow over a few rocks and cascade into a pool or fall on some more rocks before finally flowing into a pool. The first step is to ensure that water flows into the pool correctly and does not trickle out of the pool. This can be made sure by having a gradual slope towards the pool to permit the water to flow into it. To regulate the water flowing under the rocks, a liner can be used to cover the ground surface. This liner should be a different piece from the liner being used in the pool.
Selecting the correct type of stones is the secret of constructing a good waterfall. You may get tempted to pick up stones with rugged edges to depict a mountain like look. But these are not going to work. The worst case is having the rocks returning the water towards its source instead of the pool. The ideal stones are river flats and river rounds. Water has an erosion action that makes the river bed stones smooth. Ideally a good river flat will have a slight concave shape at the forward edge. This will permit the water to flow into the pool smoothly. Visit some stone yards to get the right type of stones. You will find river flats and river rounds there.
The next task is placing the stones. The best guide thing to do is to visit a natural waterfall or a botanical garden to get an idea of how the stones at the bed of a waterfall should be. You have to work from the bottom to the top. That means you start placing your stones in the opposite direction of your water flow. Each succeeding stone has to be placed above the previous stone. Thus you will ensure the making of a gradual slope to let the water flow. The slope should look natural and not be too steep.
Keep proportions in mind while deciding the size. The size of the construction, the size of the pond and the quantity of water, all need to be finely matched. Remember that the same water has to be recycled ideally once in every two hours. Large quantity of water flowing into a small pond will look atrocious. The converse may not be true. But it is always good to have a pond of matching size of your construction. This will make your garden waterfalls a great success.
Here’s a complete video tutorial:
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Feng Shui Bagua
Feng Shui consultants highly recommend a tabletop fountain for your home or office. Here’s an article from Dallas Feng Shui Consultant on benefits of a tabletop fountain in your home.
The expert consultant points out several benefits of a tabletop fountain – including but not limited to stress relief. I really find it interesting that she points out that tabletop fountains serve as natural humidifiers. The circulating water in tabletop fountains tend to refreshe and filter the air around it.
Its great to read an expert feng shui consultant’s perspective on benefits of a tabletop fountain
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Nepture Water Fountain in Italy
The Nepture water fountain in Italy has a marvelous history that often goes untold.
In 1873, Italian authorities decided to add charm to an existing “Fountain of Moor” by adding a central statue that would enhance it’s appeal. This was presented in form of a competition among the artists. Of the ten artists who participated in this “Calderari” (i.e. competition), Luigi Maioli from Ravenna was awarded with the victory. However, there were several protests about this decision, so authorities decided to create a separate committee to re-evaluate the decision.
The new committee decided that Della Bitta was to design the central figure of the new Neptune fountain, while Zappala would design eight smaller groupings that would be placed around the central figure. Both of them were to share the prize money.
Finally, in 1878, this beautiful work was completed, and it has become a central theme of beautiful water fountain in Italy.
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Healing Gardens
An interesting article on GardenWeb points out that benefits of gardening are not limited to stress relief.
A scientific study proved that Gardens are believed to help treat the symptoms of depression as well. It was also found that Gardens serve as a spiritual, physical, and emotional healing agents!
Check out some of these beautiful healing gardens to instantly relieve some stress
Read the full article here: How Gardens Help You Heal
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Japanese Landscape - courtesy Shellorz flickr
Did you know that one of the most important elements of Japanese landscapes is balance?
Japanese landscapes are designed in such a way that they avoid all the straight lines and angles. The Japanese landscapes give utmost importance to create an ideal fusion of plants, stones, water, and artistic figurines.
If you want to learn more about how to design your own Japanese landscape, look into this highly informative squidoo lens on Japanese Landscapes
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More and more Americans are choosing to “go green” in their gardens, moving away from pesticides and chemicals in favor of more natural ways to take care of their lawns. The problem with chemical fertilizers is that they can disrupt the natural balance of the soil, causing it to become more dependent upon these artificial “goodies.” By comparison, a natural fertilizer will create a longer-lasting stability in the soil that will keep grass green and soil healthy. The Fall Lawns Alive! All Natural Fertilizer is a popular product that can do just that within 10-14 days.
Additionally, the Fall Lawns Alive! All Natural Fertilizer helps cut back on thatch, which occurs when roots grow to the soil in search of surface-dwelling chemical nutrients. The Fall Lawns Alive product penetrates down into the soil so the roots grab hold down below, where they belong. The soil is softer where beneficial microorganisms exist, which allows nutrients, roots and water to penetrate. You won’t need to run the sprinkler daily when you fertilize naturally, which is a far cry from a chemically treated lawn. You can also enjoy fewer weeds and bare spots once that thatch is under control.
Lawn care is the premier sport in “keeping up with the Joneses” neighborhoods. Once one mower fires up, the whole block is out there in shorts and sweat bands, not to be outdone. When one neighbor gets a sprinkler, all the others note how dry and unkempt their own lawns have become. Little armies of “chemically fertilized” flags appear around the block and people find themselves wondering, “How did they get such a pristine lawn?” Fall Lawns Alive! All Natural Fertilizer is sort of like a secret weapon in the battle for lawn supremacy. By adding Garden’s Alive fertilizer in early fall and spring, you can rest assured you’ll have a lawn to brag about! For more information, look up Gardens Alive.
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Rodika Tchi from About.com has written a one of the most informative articles on feng shui energy and essential oils…
Here’s are some of your essential questions that are about to get answered:
- What type of essential oils are perfect for bedroom to create good feng shui energy?
- What type of essential oils are perfect for home-office?
- What are the most effective ways to use essential oils?
One of the things that is missing in Rodika’s article is integration of mist fountains and essential oils. Mist fountains are one of the best ways to integrate feng shui, aromatherapy, and home decor in one powerful focal point. One of my favorite ways to create good feng shui energy is by synergizing the essential oils with mist fountains. Learn more about Mist Fountains by reading this informative article on how mist fountains work. To learn about the top ten benefits of mist fountain, I recommend you read this article that explains the benefits of mist fountain. To get answers to the questions above, continue reading Rodika Tchi’s Feng Shui Use Of Essential Oils
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Here’s the most intriguing art of bubbles that I came across at ‘Life In The Fast Lane’ – Deborah’s collection – as usual, it’s simply awesome, mainly because of its integration with natural backgrounds.Bubbles symbolize lightness and buoyancy that is only found in a child’s innocence. These collection of bubbles in the surroundings of nature will certainly add some lightness to your day! Check it out here: Intriguing and Bizarre Art of Bubbles in Photography and Nature
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Japanese Tea Garden
If you’ve grown a container garden or two but want to advance your gardening and decorating skills, Japanese garden design is the way to go. This ancient form of garden design was created to promote peace and tranquility. You can be relaxing in your own paradise in no time by including these 5 key ingredients in your garden.
Moss. Adding plants like tufted moss to your garden makes the space look like a retreat, and allows you to focus on relaxing and renewing your strength. You can put the moss at the entryway and throughout the sides of the garden for a welcoming but secluded feel.
Stone lantern. A Japanese stone lantern will make a space look mysterious and alluring. You may even want to put a few hanging baskets around the lantern to bring more attention to the plants. A container herb garden would look nice around the lantern as well. The lantern not only helps to conserve energy, but gives your Japanese garden design a warm, exotic look.
‘Planting’ other gardens. Even though your container garden or organic seed plants may be the focus of your garden, you can also include other gardens in the scenery to make your Japanese garden design complete. A sand garden is great if you’ve planting things like cactus or bonsai trees and a Zen stone garden goes well with any plants in your garden. These gardens offer special places within your new space for reflection and meditation.
A tea house. This can be a small house or building within your garden where you can go to spend time alone or to interact with loved ones in a peaceful environment. The windows in your tea house should be facing other peaceful scenes in the garden, such as the Japanese lantern or the Zen rock garden, so that even while you are inside you can experience the tranquility of the entire garden. You can even bring some of your container plants into the teahouse-things like lavender flowers and aloe vera plants will add to the atmosphere nicely and you can use these plants for medicinal purposes as well.
A bamboo fountain. A well crafted high quality bamboo fountain brings the air of tranquility to your garden unlike anything else. The soothing sounds of water in combination with beautiful bamboo makes your Japanese garden design complete.
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A well planned decision about purchasing an indoor fountain plays a significant role in avoiding mistakes when shopping for it. Considering that you have already made a decision to get yourself an indoor water fountain, you may have heard all the benefits of indoor water fountains. Its time to educate yourself to choose which indoor water fountain will meet your needs and taste.
Let’s talk about the common mistakes a prospect buyer can encounter if he/she doesn’t know how to prepare for this important water feature shopping.
1.) Mismatching Size: A tabletop fountain would never look good in a large area by itself as a decorative item. A floor fountain would not compliment the looks of an office or a small room. The diameter of the tabletop fountain should be the basis of your measurement. The height of the fountain you are eyeing can be checked to make sure there is some clearance to your space. Floor fountains measurements can be determined primarily from its width. By stacking some boxes up you can determine the height of the fountain. If it is an outdoor fountain more likely the size would not be a problem.
2.) Improper Placement: A tall vertical wall fountain and a low lying ceiling with a long wall would not complement each other. You should choose a horizontal fountain for this place. To avoid future problems it is important to choose and plan for the right place for your new fountain ahead of time. Preparing ahead of time will also allow you to figure out what type of fountain will best suit the place you want. The fountain should complement the place. If it’s a tabletop fountain then it must fit in and belong on the table or desk.
3.) Incompatible with the Existing Decor: Your indoor fountain should be compatible with the looks of the furniture and the room’s overall decor. A water fountain should be able to render its aesthetic beauty as a work of art. It must blend with the architecture of both the interior and exterior part of the house or building.
4.) Inadequate Materials: You would want to select an indoor fountain from a wide array of styles and materials. If you are going for quality you may settle for the most durable piece that will serve you for the longest possible time. One way to get the right fountain that will meet your taste and budget is to shop by material. You can choose from copper, granite, glass, stone, ceramic, slate and many more.
5.) Budget: Water fountains have several different price ranges. You may buy a small tabletop fountains for as low as $15, whereas, some high-quality designer wall fountains go for more than $10000. Ask yourself if you want your fountain to be a big financial investment or simply a small splurge? Also, consider the maintenance needs of a big water fountain before you get one.
There are various reasons why you would want to buy an indoor fountain for your home, office or business establishment. If you avoid these five mistakes when shopping for one, it will prove your fountains benefits and worth. Hopefully you will enjoy that satisfied relaxation, sense of peace and relief from stress that only a water fountain can offer.
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Being a Fire feng shui element, candles invoke the energy of purification and inspiration, they warm up the energy and help release daily stress. Photo: (c) Iittala
I came across this interesting article on candles and their implications on feng shui from Rodika Tchi at About.com
Read the article to learn the following:
- What kind of candles should be AVOIDED for indoor use?
- What kind of feng shui energy is invoked when using candles?
- What’s the best location from a feng shui perspective to place candles?
Read the article on Feng Shui use of candles
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Things you would need:
- A half barrel – either plastic, resin, or wood – $20 to $25
- Black colored milk crate – just get it from restaurant for free. Make sure that the crate fits the barrel completely
- A pump – a 260 gallon per hour (GPH) pump – get it from ebay, lowe’s or home depot. – $30 from ebay – make sure you note the diameter of the outlet (the place from where its going to push the water) – Find the matching fountain nozzle set from lowe’s or home depot
- Two terracotta pots – 10 inch standard terracotta pots – $5/pot – Make sure that the nozzle pipe fits through the opening hole on bottom of the pots
- 14″ dish-garden terracotta pot – once again make sure that the nozzle pipe fits through the bottom of the pot
- Plumbers putty
- Lava rocks
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One would think the $36-billion lawn and garden industry would be hurting with the economic downturn. However, outdoor companies understand that, as the economy continues to rebound, consumers are still looking for new innovations that save money. Experts posit one of the latest trends is the backyard vegetable garden, which can save consumers a little cash at the grocery store and foster a healthy diet. First-time gardeners are being seduced by amazing technology, like the $60 EasyBloom Plant Sensor, which takes all the guesswork out of planting and makes specific recommendations based on your exact soil type. It looks like this:
To use the EasyBloom Plant Sensor, you plug it into a computer’s USB port to register, download the necessary software program and access the online plant library. Choose a mode, such as Water, Recommend or Monitor. In “Water” mode, you’ll find out if your plants are getting too much or too little water. In “Monitor” mode, EasyBloom will tell you what’s wrong with an ailing plant and give you clues on how to fix it. With “Recommend” mode, EasyBloom will tell you the ideal plants to grow in the given conditions. Next, you place the sensor in the location where you’d like to put your garden, leaving it to analyze for at least 24 hours. As you sleep, the Plant Sensor will begin analyzing the sunlight, temperature, humidity, soil moisture and drainage, using the same technology NASA uses to measure the soil on Mars. Then you can plug your Plant Sensor back into your USB and see what this “Plant Doctor” can do!
This invention is a God-send to people with a “brown thumb” who can’t seem to keep their plants alive, but it is also a marvel for the experienced gardener. Once inserted into the ground, this device will know the time, temperature, humidity, sunlight and moisture. Once plugged into the USB port of your computer, it will link to a website, where you enter your postal code once and it links you to weather service databases and local seed companies. Most impressive is EasyBloom Plant Sensor’s 5,000+ plant library (at www.easybloom.com/plantlibrary), which tells you how to grow plants from seed, whether they need sun or shade, which type of soil they need, interesting facts and more! There are loads of colorful picture and a convenient “Buy Now” button. You’ll get lists of plants that flourish in your area, which you can narrow down by specifying the bloom color, season or plant height you prefer. You can also keep an online inventory of the plants you’re growing for one-click reference.
“Technology is really trying to take the guess work out of it because most of us don’t have scientific labs where we can test how much water our plants have versus how much they needs, or what’s the temperature of the soil,” says Natali Del Conte of CNET.com. However, there is still room for improvement with products like the EasyBloom Plant Sensor. One drawback is that the system doesn’t analyze for soil acidity or alkalinity, it doesn’t advise you on composting or fertilizing and it can’t test the exact mineral composition of your soil. These are all features that tech savvy gardeners say they’d like to see incorporated in the future. For more information, visit www.easybloom.com. To buy, you can save $10 off the original retail price at www.amazon.com.
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Although we all love tabletop fountains, we tend to be a bit ignorant when we need to take proper care of them. The following tips will help you to take good care of your tabletop fountain and ensure proper maintenance of it:
1) Usage of water
Any tabletop fountain needs water to be added to it at regular intervals as evaporation is the key cause of loss of water. If you are going to add water to it, please ensure that the quality of water added by you is of good quality and the best way of doing this is by adding distilled water so that the pump will remain in good condition. Sadly the tap water that is used by most people contains a number of minerals and other chemical impurities that can tarnish the water fountain. If you are not interested in buying distilled water for your water fountain you can pick up a number of products that can be used for the treatment of tap water due to which the quality of the tap water will improve. I will tell you about these products a bit later in my article. You should always ensure that the water level in the reservoir is at the right level ñ you need to check this daily as you will need to add water as and when the water level is not up to the required mark.
2). Maintaining the pump
Although the tabletop fountain pumps are dependable and can last for a long time, they need to be provided with the right kind of maintenance so that they work efficiently like before. This is important as every electric product does need a bit of maintenance regularly. If the pump is not cleaned regularly then it will lead to accumulation of algae and dirt ñ this in turn will not allow the pump to work efficiently and the rate of water being pumped will be much less than what can be normally expected by you. If you want your tabletop fountain pump to work competently then you will definitely need to clean it properly after every two months. This will ensure that your fountain will survive for a longer duration.
3). List of things that can be used to clean the fountain
Before I start with the list of things that can be used for cleaning your tabletop fountain, I would like to warn you to avoid certain things like bleach while cleaning your fountain. Avoid the use of bleach as it unnecessarily causes foam and suds when the water moves in the fountain. You should instead stick to products that have been created specially for the tabletop water fountains.
- The first product – Protec is useful as not only is it used for the treatment of water thus helping you to avoid buying distilled water, but it also helps you in the maintenance of your pump.
- Another product – Fountec also helps you in the maintenance of your tabletop fountain. Besides this it is handy as it helps in keeping the water free from algae. And in case you are worried that your pet might accidentally drink the water containing any of these products and suffer from some poisoning, be assured that both these products cannot cause any harm to your pets.
4). Follow maintenance instructions carefully
You need to keep the set of instructions that came with your tabletop fountain in a safe place. Follow them regularly for maintaining your tabletop fountain. Every fountain has its own set of instructions. These instructions have been given by the people who have created it so they will definitely help you in maintaining your fountain and taking good care of it so that it lasts for a long time.
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Tabletop fountains make great wedding decoration items. Flowing water in tabletop fountains creates positive energy, makes it a unique decorative item, and serve as a great feng shui element. They are the ultimate symbols for celebration of your love and life.
Here are the questions you should ask yourself when considering a tabletop fountain as a wedding decor item:
- What kind of fountain do you need? - It really depends on the area you choose to place it. If you would like to place a water fountain by your guestbook or wedding cake table, its best to get a corded fountain. However, if you choose to place it on the guest tables, battery operated cordless fountains are your best choice.
- Whether you should get a customized fountain or a pre-designed fountain? This is entirely upto you and your budget. The wedding florist can customized a pre-designed fountain with your personal touch of figurines or artwork.
- Rent or Buy? – There are several pro’s and con’s to buying vs. renting. For instance, if you purchase a fountain, you can pretty much forget about expecting any outside help. You would be solely responsible for setting it up. Whereas renting it would relieve you of setup hassle. To read the full article, [click to continue…]
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This is a must see for every fountain lover. Deborah from ‘life in the fast lane’ has collection of all the unique and bizarre water fountain…Check it out here:
Worlds Most Bizarre and Intriguing Water Fountains
I am sure you would thrilled to see the special water fountain collection from Deborah!
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If you don’t already know, Shishi Odoshi is a Japanese term for Deer Scarer Fountain.
Here’s how they look
Shishi Odoshi Fountain
Years ago, Japanese farmers used to place Shishi Odoshi’s in their farms to hydrate them and keep the deers away. 
Well, today, it has become a classic garden decor item. Considering its rocking motion, some also known it as water hammer.
Far from being a hammer, this beautiful fountain create an aesthetic appeal. I’ve a tabletop shishi odoshi and I love it.
Here’s a comprehensive squidoo lens on how to design and build a shishi odoshi.
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I’ve had a nice bamboo tabletop fountain on my desk for over 3 years now. Every morning, as soon as I turn on my pc, I plug in the fountain. It has become a routine for me. I guess I cannot work in front of a computer without a nice water fountain on my desk.
Principles of feng shui state that flowing water attracts chi, the life-force, the one energy of consciousness. A well-designed tabletop fountain attracts positive energy to homes and offices.
Tabletop fountains act as natural humidifiers. Indoor heating and cooling systems tend to make your indoors a dry environment by sucking the moisture from the air. A well placed tabletop fountain adds natural water vapor to the air that surrounds you, creating a well balanced, clean, and naturally soothing environment for indoors.
A tabletop fountain acts as a well designed noise filter. Trickling sounds of a tabletop fountain water helps in filtering out the humming noise of your computer or other electronic appliances. Some pumps have inbuilt feature that allows you to control the water flow in your tabletop fountain. This allows you to adjust the flow of water, and thereby, the volume of trickling sounds of water to meet your specific sound needs.
A mist tabletop fountain can help you create a visually stimulating environment with its LED lights and enchanting fog.
You may also add few drops of essential oils to the water of misting fountain to create an aromatherapy effect. I usually add few drops of eucalyptus oil to a misting fountain to entice my sense of smell and rejuvenate my mind. As per aromatherapy, 3 to 5 drops of Eucalyptus oil tends to refresh body, invigorate mind, and purify spirit. In addition 5 drops of eucalyptus oil, add 5 drops of peppermint oil, and 8 drops of grapefruit oil in a mist fountain to create an invigorating mist – My personal favorite.
That’s about it. Although a tabletop fountain may not totally transform your life, but it certainly brings a little something to refresh your mind, body, and spirit.
When I am stressed, tired, or bored, I just look at the flowing water. My stress simply melts away as I experience the soft splashing sound and the random water streams that are created every time flowing water splashes on shiny river stones. It relieves my eyes, and more importantly, my mind, and my soul.
Btw, don’ forget to leave your comments…
Cheers!
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I love tabletop fountains – they are simply awesome.
As time allows me, I would be writing everything that I find interesting about tabletop fountains. This is going to be the ultimate information hub for everything related to tabletop fountains.
In the mean time, check out my Tabletop Fountain Articles on Ezine Articles to learn more about tabletop fountains.
Until next time,
Cheers!
P.S
Leave me your comments on tabletop fountain related stuff that you want to learn or find interesting…I’ll make sure I address them in near future.
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