country french goes outdoors 7fountains a PLAYHOUSE for grown-ups plant drama Big Pots = Bold Color for sound & style

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1 Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications 7fountains for sound & style plant drama Big Pots = Bold Color Summer 2006 $6.99 U.S. $8.99 CAN. Display until July 4 country french goes outdoors a PLAYHOUSE for grown-ups

2 water MUSIC Add the pleasures of sound and motion to a garden room. Whatever your garden s style or your home s architecture contemporary, country, formal, European, naturalistic, Mediterranean, Asian, or old-world you ll find a fountain to complement it. One of the seven water features on the following pages is perfect for your patio or terrace. produced by JON CARLOFTIS 24 garden rooms summer 2006

3 PhPhotographer: Helen Norman. Garden Classic Give a traditional garden, patio, or courtyard a focal point with a tiered fountain, such as this one in which water bubbles from the sphere on top. Cast from concrete, the fountain, 54 inches tall and 32 inches wide, is set amid a row of myrtle (Myrtus spp.) topiaries, pink Mandevilla, and white Phlox paniculata. Similar fountains are available with three tiers or with finials such as a pineapple or an acorn. garden rooms summer

4 WATER music Ceramic Art Create a tabletop fountain with a glazed ceramic cachepot, one of the simplest water features you can make. In this cobalt blue pot, 12 inches tall and 12 inches in diameter, water burbles out of a little bronze frog prince with a crown. For added interest, Montauk daisies (Nipponanthemum nipponicum) float in the basin. Photographers: this page, Alison Miksch; opposite, Helen Norman. 26 garden rooms summer 2006

5 Formal Flair Combine a contemporary material fiberglass resin with a water feature suitable for a formal setting. This two-piece fountain, with water dribbling over a cherub and into a basin, can stay outdoors without damage in harsh winters. Its light weight won t tax a deck the way a stone or metal fountain might. The fountain is ringed by PeeGee hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata Grandiflora ), boxwood (Buxus spp.), mimosa (Albizia julibrissin), Melampodium, phlox, and impatiens. garden rooms summer

6 WATER music Eastern Air Reinforce an Asian theme with this pedestal fountain featuring simple lines and a bubbler nozzle. Water spouts from the nozzle, then flows into the two basins below. Made of concrete, the water feature is 15 inches tall and 26 inches wide. Plantings of sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera Boulevard ), Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), and bamboo (Bambusa spp.) echo the Far Eastern scheme. Photographers: this page, Helen Norman; opposite, Alison Miksch. 28 garden rooms summer 2006

7 Going Casual Made of cast-stone concrete, this water feature is 18 inches tall and 21 inches wide. Its clean, contemporary lines and simple, natural shape are suited to an informal garden style. Water flows from a disk on top into a basin below; the lower the water level in the basin, the more sound the fountain makes. Boxwood (Buxus spp.), red snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus), and ferns supply color and greenery. garden rooms summer

8 WATER music Fountain Basics A fountain is composed of a pump, plastic tubing for moving the water, a basin, and a nozzle. The pump usually comes with the fountain, or you can buy one where fountains are sold. The nozzle, or fountainhead, determines spray pattern. How fountains work: A small pump circulates water up through plastic tubing into the fountain, then returns it to a catch basin, where it is pumped up through the tubing again. Setting up: Select a site where you can view the fountain from all sides and where sunlight will strike the water, creating a shimmering effect. Set the fountain on level ground a concrete slab or paver is ideal and follow the instructions that come with the fountain. Submerge the pump in the fountain s catchment basin. Hide the electrical cable in the base of the fountain or slip it out over the side and plug it into a standard outlet. Camouflage the cord with plants. Install the fountainhead at least 2 inches above the water. Maintenance: Keep the fountain filled with water and free of dirt and debris. You can use tap water, but if your water is high in mineral deposits, you may want to use distilled water. Mineral deposits can adversely affect the look of a fountain and clog the pump, causing damage. Check the fountain periodically to make sure it is not clogged. If you re planning to be gone for a few days, turn off the fountain until you return. Cleaning: If your fountain contains no plants or fish, treat the water with a small amount of bleach, vinegar, or clarifier to inhibit algae growth, which can clog the fountain s hoses. (Check your instruction manual; some chemicals should not be used with certain types of fountains.) Consider using black hoses instead of clear ones, because no light penetrates black hoses to foster algae growth. If your fountain contains plants or fish, choose a fountainhead with large holes, a dome, or a bubbling head to discourage algae growth. Water levels: Check water levels often during hot sunny weather; the pump can become damaged if it s not covered by water. If you live in an area that freezes in winter, turn off the water, drain the fountain, remove and store the pump, and cover the fountain during winter months. 30 garden rooms summer 2006 Prairie Home Companion Hang a fountain on a wall as you would a picture. A wall fountain is a good option where floor space is limited. With its Arts and Crafts appeal, this water feature looks best in a traditional setting. English ivy (Hedera helix) forms a green backdrop; blue Caryopteris perfumes the foreground. Attach this fountain, 26 inches tall and 17 inches wide, with a screw, nail, or hook.

9 Modern Metal Transform a galvanized-tin washtub or feed trough into a fountain for an ultramodern or country setting. Water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes), variegated ivy, and a small stone frog provide decorative touches for the tub, which is 12 inches tall, 4 feet wide, and 2 feet deep. Prevent toxic materials from leaching into the water by using a plastic liner or a water sealant inside the container. For more information, see Resources on page 111. Photographer: Alison Miksch garden rooms summer