Garden water fountains have been around for ages, but were mostly used by the truly green thumbs of us all.  However, with some more modern artists getting into making them, they have taken a different turn.

Classic Stone Fountain:

The classic stone fountains would be such creations as:

- Cupid
- The 2 children dancing
- Dolphin sprouting water
- Children pouring a water jug

These are just a few of the classics that were made from stone or ceramic. They have stood up against the test of time, and gives a certain charm to your garden.These types of fountains have also been known to attract certain types of wild life, such as birds, and squirrels, both who seem not to be able to get enough of them.Modern Stainless Steel Fountain:

These are starting to break into the more modernize water gardens, they do have their charm, and can be quite hypnotic to watch. Especially the ones that have the water cascading down a steal ball into the water basin of the fountain. And with the way the light tends to reflect off the metal and water at the same time, can have an interesting effect. Of course, it can also pose a problem as well if not placed in just the right place.

These types of fountains might dictate how your garden is laid out, instead of adding to it. As if it is in the wrong place, it might reflect the light badly, and all you will see is this blazing ball of white light in your garden, instead of something to look at an enjoy.

It is really up to you which garden water fountains you want to put inside your garden. Do you want to stick with the more traditional stone fountains, or go with the modernize stainless steel ones? Just remember, whichever choice you make, will make or break any garden you design. And there is a good reason why the classics have stood up against the test of time.

If you want to save time and money on garden or yard lighting, consider solar power lights. These are powered by the sun, charging by day and shining by night, so you won’t have to worry with hiring an electrician to wire your lights or running cables underground to keep them from being an electrical hazard. Solar lighting has become extremely popular in garden and yard decor because solar lights can easily be added to any area without hassle. They are affordable and will last for many years if you buy high quality products.

Another fantastic aspect of solar power lighting is there are now many themes to choose from to brighten your landscape. You’re no longer limited to merely lamps to line your walking paths. Solar power decor items are available in almost any garden design imaginable. You can create an entire yard decor theme with solar power products, while solving two problems in one. Provide light for your landscape and decorate…with the same products!

Solar Power Lighting Themes

There are now hundreds of items to choose from to decorate your landscape and patio. If you love animals, choose from solar powered frogs, butterflies, hummingbirds, turtles and squirrels. Decorate your flower garden with solar powered daisies, sunflowers, tulips, mushrooms, lilies, or maple leaves. For mystical themes, add solar lighting items featuring gnomes, fairies, gargoyles or angels. There are also solar powered lighthouses, stones, address fixtures, and wind chimes. Keep in mind that, with solar powered lighting, you don’t have to worry about the dangers associated with electricity. And, if you choose LEDs, you can enjoy their long life and won’t have to be concerned about the bulbs frequently burning out.

Focal Points that Stand Out

Choose areas for solar lighting products that serve the purpose well. Consider adding lights to your fencing (particularly the entrance), patio and steps, walkways, and anywhere you feel needs some extra lighting. For pathway lighting, there are mushrooms that change color, cylinder fence post lights, LED pathway lights in several colors, hook lanterns, and various designs of pathway solar lights that resemble miniature New England style street lamps.

Consider adding solar powered items near your statues and garden fountains. These will illuminate your main focal decor items during the evening hours and can usually be matched to the theme of your statue or fountain. For example, if you have a birdbath fountain, consider adding a solar powered hummingbird display beside the fountain. If you have a statue of angels, add solar powered angels near the statue.

Solar powered lights can illuminate small yards or vast landscapes. They work well for homes, courtyards, churches and businesses. They also ward off prowlers by lighting up areas that are normally very dark. Prowlers often stay away from well-lit yards and homes. They can also provide lighting where your guests will walk to help prevent falls.

If you want to view a variety of solar powered decor products for your landscape decor, consider shopping online. Online decor stores usually carry many solar powered products that are not available locally, including other decor items such as wind chimes, bookends, fountains, statues, wall clocks, bird feeders, birdhouses, decorative vases and more. With the right solar power lighting, your landscape will be appealing day and night!

Elegant and ornate, outdoor furniture made from cast iron is quite simply built for any weather conditions. Dining sets, chaise lounges, tables and chairs, when made from forged iron, will be the most durable outdoor furniture you can find. Well-made furniture pieces will work years for you, without needing much in the way of maintenance. Cast iron is made especially for use outdoors, so pieces made from it can stand up to strong sun, hail, snow, wind or rain, and it will still look beautiful with timeless style.

Lawn chairs made from iron are nearly indestructible, and homeowners love the forged iron, in back yards of every type of house from mansions to tract houses. Today’s pieces from the foundry are a superlative choice for gardens, porches and patios.You can purchase cast iron furniture of the highest quality from home improvement and retail stores, or you can shop at wholesale warehouses or online. From seven-piece patio sets to bistro sets, to lawn chairs, backyard benches, garden tables and bar sets, cast iron outdoor pieces suit many home decors and many different types of taste. Traditional homeowners will love the wonderful ornate carvings that Victorian benches show, and people who prefer contemporary furnishings will enjoy cast iron furniture on their modern patios or terraces.

Iron furniture is well at home out in the country, too. Rustic benches with their pine slats may be painted with a country scene, and they’re great for a quiet day outside, looking over your acreage. Cast iron appeals to nearly everyone, regardless of their generation, and the added hardwoods show off additional quality construction. Park benches are as much at home in gardens as they are in front of businesses and restaurants. People usually love the chance to sit and chat on a nice spring or summer day. If you’re looking for heavy duty outdoor furniture, iron can’t be beat.

Of course, there are many styles of outdoor furniture on the market so unless you absolutely have your heart set on cast iron, don’t be afraid to shop around. Wicker furniture is among the styles that are appearing in fashion magazines this season, due to it’s light elegant lines and sturdy construction. Solid wooden pieces are also popular in home wares stores, with some novel designs constructed with sustainable timbers. Think outside the box, and you will be able to create an amazing outdoor area to entertain guests in time for summer!

A gazebo is a free standing structure usually built in area that has a good or interesting view. It can be built square, round, or octagonal to suit the homeowner. The gazebo can be used for entertaining, dining or just lounging away from the main house. Some gazebos are built large enough to house a complete summer outdoor kitchen. They are built of metal materials such as aluminum, wrought iron or steel as well as of wood and stone. Whatever your gazebo is made of you should consider a cover for the gazebo based upon the weather and insect population in your area. The gazebo may be built to be sturdy but as with all stable materials your gazebo is not indestructible.Some of the materials the protective covers for your gazebo are made of are heavy canvas, vinyl, light fabrics and gazebo netting. The choice of cover for your gazebo is dependent upon the weather in your area. If the weather in your area is harsh you will want to have your cover made from the heavy canvas or vinyl. On the other hand, if you have nice weather but dense insect population all year long than the lighter fabrics or netting is more desirable.

Gazebo netting is used for protection, not just from the elements, but from mosquitoes. The female mosquito needs warm blood to fertilize her eggs and will bite any warm blooded creature she comes in contact with. Since you do not want to be her blood donor the gazebo netting is definitely something you should look into. It also keeps those annoying and pesky flies that want to share your lunch away. The netting is made to easily fit over the gazebo with a zipper along the top and a zippered doorway. They can be made to fit any size or configuration gazebo.

You will enjoy your gazebo for relaxation, entertaining family and friends and for dining away from the hot kitchen and the heat of the house. With gazebo netting you can view your garden without all the annoying and biting insects.

1. The cover rests upon and is supported by the poolwater. Therefore,prior to cover installation, it is important to make sure the pool is notleaking.

2. Follow the pool manufacturer’s/builder’s winterizing instructions foryour pool and accessories.

3. Consult with your pool dealer on the appropriate winterizing chemicals to be used. The pool must be chlorinated until freeze-up to prevent algae growth.

4. Although your wintercover is made of a tough material, it is required that you pad sharp corners, abrasive decking, protrusions, rough edges of the coping, etc. with old towels, foam remnants or corrugated cardboard, etc.5. Lower the water level in your pool below the skimmer (approximately 18 inches down from the coping) to prevent freezing.

6. Lay out the cover on the ground, black side down. Then spread it across the pool.

7. For covers with straps, insert the unfilled vinyl water tubes through the straps around the complete perimeter of the pool. It is important to lay the water tubes end to end to prevent the wind from getting under the cover. A billowing wind condition can cause serious damage to your cover. If the tubes are to be subjected to freezing temperatures, they should be half filled, allowing for ice expansion to prevent damage.

8. When the cover is installed on the pool, it is normal for a small amount of water to seep onto the surface of the cover.