I love it when we have guest authors on the Outdoor Garden Statues blog.  Someone else who shares our passion comes with  a little different point of view that makes us see our garden in a different way.  Today’s poster, Rodney Williams is the owner of Elite World of Fountains and Statuaries who are an authorized dealer for the Al’s Garden Art Collections. They make your garden more romantic with water fountains, garden fountains, statues or other garden art and accessories. (Article Source: http://www.articles-heaven.com/articles/?Garden-Water-Fountains-Lend-Touch-Of-Serenity-Beauty-To-Gardens&articleid=36379)  Obviously he knows quite a bit about fountains which is something that I haven’t posted much about.  Here’s what  Mr. Williams has to share:

There are lots of choices these days if you want to add a decorative garden water fountain. Even if you are running short on space, you can choose a small outdoor garden fountains that could be fitted in a corner to use up as little space as possible. There are a lot of different designs, qualities and sizes available in the market and it does not matter how large or small your garden space is, there is always one available that is ideal for you. The advantage of fitting garden water fountains is that they are easy to install into heterogeneous positions and are completely mobile too. It is easy to transfer your fountain to a new position if required. This could help you change the look of your garden for different occasions. Meanwhile, if you already have a certain type of natural or artificial water feature within your garden, the new garden water fountain can easily be integrated into your existing system layout to give it a surprising facade.

Water fountains are generally self contained units and the water pump is usually integrated within the body. The overall maintenance of the fountains is pretty much hassle-free and requires very little amount of caring. There are lots of different materials that can be used for making a garden water fountain: from traditional stones right through to more contemporary metals. But, nowadays customization is the new trend. People choose fountains according to their tastes, personal preferences, imaginations, likings, style, interior and exterior decorations, size of the lawn and above all, latest fashion trends.

The modern artistic designs are really superb and make perfect use of shape, size and design combined together to form stunning looking pieces. On the other hand, if you have a traditional preference you can go for religious, traditional, geometric and unique vintage style outdoor garden fountains. Such traditional, hand finished and gentle fountains range from little cascades to bird bath styles, from imperial to ancient gothic architectures.

If you are planning to remodel your garden and are looking for cost effective options, adding a garden fountain really makes sense. There are numerous positive reasons for adding one and by doing so; you will be ensuring your garden has an attractive, soothing, tranquil and cheering influence. A perfect water fountain with superior craftsmanship gives an astounding decorative feature to your garden. A well placed garden fountain not only gives an exceptional touch to your home’s exterior but also defines your love towards natural beauty and mental peace.

(Glenna’s Comments)  I have a fountain in my front garden.  It is probably one of the best purchases I have ever made for my garden site.  Many times I have been sitting at my dining room table conversing with someone who suddenly yawns and remarks about how relaxed they feel.  Usually it is because of the sound of the fountain burbling outside the window.  It’s a wonderful gift to give your friends in this hectic world.

Be sure to visit the Outdoor Garden Solar Fountains page while you are here.  They are wonderful because they can be put in places where it would be difficult to hard wire an electric pump.  That freedom opens all kinds of doors to the places you can use them.

Outdoor Statues – Some new statues (especially cast stone) have salts in their materials that will leach out for a while.  It will look like a whitish haze on them (efflorescence) that will disappear over time.  This is usually natural but again, check with your manufacturer.

Even though many statues are permanently installed in the open air, it is best for them to be protected from water and freezing weather.  If possible, a roof can be built over them or if you live in a place with extreme temperature fluctuations, they can be covered with burlap and a tarp until the weather stabilizes.  Like fountains, smaller pieces can be brought inside through the worst of it.  Some cast stone statues do well having a sealant applied on a yearly basis.  Be careful as there are different products and you need one that is compatible with your statue.

If your statue needs cleaning, a nylon brush with some mild detergent should be all you need.  Do not use strongly acidic solutions and watch out in areas where a lot of winter salt is used to clear ice.  Make sure you wash it off your statue so that it doesn’t affect it.

Fountains are easily maintained.

Fountains – I have a fiberglass fountain that I purchased 2 1/2 years ago.  Since I live in Florida, there are only a few nights that I have to worry about freezing weather.  So far, it has held up nicely.  I usually spend about 10 minutes a week caring for it.  First I skim any leaves out and then I use a short piece of hose to siphon any dirt that has settled on the bottom of the bowls.  Finally I make sure the water level is where it should be and then add a little bleach to keep it clear.  When it is running, I check it every 3 or 4 hours to make sure the water is deep enough.  It is better to fill it more frequently than to let it get too empty and risk having your pump burn out.

If you live in a northern climate, a smaller fountain can be emptied and even moved inside until the thaw/frost cycles are over for the year.  If it can’t be moved, drain it and put burlap into the bowl, then cover it with a tarp.   If it is a very large fountain, keep the water circulating during cold weather so that the pump can’t freeze.  You can further protect it by installing a water heater.

Some manufacturers recommend that you take your pump apart about once a month and soak the parts in vinegar to keep them free of mineral deposits.  I confess, I haven’t done that yet but will include it in this year’s winter maintenance plans.  You can find more helpful information on the Garden Statue Shop Information pages.