Water in the Garden: Basins and Fountains



Posted: Thursday, February 09, 2006

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Online Discount Mart Home & Garden Decor

Few features can transform your landscape into 17th or 18th century gardens quite like a cistern or period fountain. Adding water to your garden brings your space to life with movement, sound and visual interest. Whether you want a nostalgic look for your garden or a contemporary design, basins and fountains are spectacular water features that are delightful for any garden setting—water garden, courtyard garden, cottage and even form gardens. The following article discusses various types of historical and contemporary basins and fountains.

There are a few types of basins to be described here. The first is the English cistern popular in both the 17th and 18th centuries. Composed of lead, these cisterns were used to collect rain water for use in the garden as well as the house. Of course, we know today about the threat of lead poisoning so such antiques are not meant for consumption. Some of these old cisterns were quite large, some sat on pedestals and some were actually mounted to walls. Wall and pedestal version might have been fitted with taps.

Today, gardeners may still find these vintage cisterns for garden use—some small ones are employed as planters, but those not made from lead can be used for a variety of water features like fish receptacles and garden pools. However, many companies manufacture reproductions which are far more functional but still provide a look reminiscent of a romantic past.

Dipping wells are actually a form of cisterns. Such wells were used to store water and keep it at air temperature. Popular in herbal gardens, such ornamental water features are still popular today. Most traditional examples are made from brick or stone. Today’s dipping wells contain a concealed pipe for filling and a tap.

Japanese water basins generally have two forms—a tall basin and a low basin. However, both forms have hundreds of different designs so finding an attractive one for your Oriental garden should not be difficult. Either type of basin might be employed in a home, courtyard or tea garden. Some also might be placed outside a shrine. Japanese are particularly fond of naturally formed basins where water collects in the indention of a large rock for example.

Many water gardeners and landscapers transform their cisterns and other types of water receptacles into fountains. Today, it seems there are endless styles of garden fountains made from the simple to the highly elaborate. Fountains have a truly ancient history. In ancient Greece, marble basins were employed to catch water fed by beautiful springs making for some of the first fountains in the western world.

While ancient fountains, generally speaking, were placed throughout the verdure of a garden, medieval gardens usually incorporated them to be the single ornament and focal point of their gardens. Renaissance fountains may well have comprised a golden age for the fountain. Better technology led to some of the world’s most beautiful and elaborate fountains. Nymphs modeled after classical Greek mythology as well as cherubic nudes were incorporated into stone fountains. Italian fountains were prized above all and many other countries copied their designs. Today, wonderful reproductions of Renaissance designs can be seen in many water gardens.

Spanish style fountains are popular and well-known for their Arab influence Arabs of Persia and North Africa were some of the world’s greatest fountain builders. Spanish and Moroccan fountains were made of expensive and precious materials. Moorish fountains might have been alabaster basins with a single jet and many were designed with overflow in mind for levels of cascading water.

Today’s water gardeners have all these styles to choose from and more. Victorian cast iron fountains are still available today as well as older fountains—but these must be purchased through antique dealers generally. Modern designs often employ the designs of old, but are more functional and meet today’s requirements more efficiently. Single jets to multiple jets are used and many gardeners add lighting effects for an even grander showing.

Today’s fountains are attached to walls, used in small container pools and also in very large garden ponds. Whatever niche you would like to fill, there is a basin or fountain style to suit your garden. Old or new, water features are lovely ways to enhance any garden be it formal or rustic.

by J. A. Young
Lorien1973 writes articles about home decor and garden decor for such sites as Online Discount Mart.
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