We've looked at some of the plants you have to choose from in designing your yard. But there's another component at your disposal for creating a beautiful landscape: hardscape. And water fountains are one of the hottest features in hardscape's repertoire.
Like plants, water fountains are visually appealing. But water fountains boast a quality that plants generally don't (with the exception of hearing tree leaves rustle when it's windy out): they generate a pleasing sound for us to enjoy. With a simple pump, you can create a gurgling water fountain whose sound will soothe your nerves at the end of a hard day's work.
Moreover, water -- and especially moving water -- suggests coolness, even if we don't touch it. Just being around water has a cooling effect on the psyche. For Feng Shui afficionados, installation of water fountains in the garden means profiting from the presence of one of the five elements (water, wood, fire, metal and earth).
If you would like to learn how to create a water fountain for your own garden, please consult my tutorial on garden fountains, which walks you through the process with pictures.
