Don’t forget the Phoenix Koi Rescue has Koi, Sarassas Comets, Shunbunkins and Goldfish for adoption.  Anyone is welcome to adopt a finny friend.  Just give “Shorty” Routh a call at 602-354-4738 or drop a line to Phoenixkoirescue.com.  Adoption is free.

 

Water features have a long history dating back to ancient civilizations. People in any civilization readily appreciate the sight and sound of water. They go to great lengths to include fountains and reflecting pools in public and private spaces. Modern societies value the soothing, calming effect of water.  This helps explain today’s vast array of garden fountains, wall fountains, indoor fountains, tabletop fountains, and fountain accessories. Add assorted bowls, basins, pottery, bamboo, millstones, and statues involving water and you have countless choices of water features.

 

Basic water features offer simple setup, relatively low cost, and easy maintenance. A freestanding fountain or a bowl and fountain combination quickly introduces the sound of water to your living space. Check with your local garden center or water garden retailer to see their offerings. And with a shovel and a level, you can install a fountain unit rather easily.

 

Protect pottery and concrete pieces from freeze damage in colder climates. Re-level them if the ground shifts or settles. Clean on a regular basis to prevent algae and debris buildup. Birds make a mess if they use your fountain as a birdbath. Environmentally friendly products control foaming, algae, scale, and mosquitoes in fountains. Consider an outdoor timer to limit electrical consumption. Always use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) with a pump.

 

On a larger scale, consider a disappearing waterfall. Essentially a scaled up fountain, think of it as a pond-free water feature. Without having to install a pond and manage its fish, plants, and algae, promoters claim it is a breeze to maintain. It creates a much greater sound and visual impact than a small fountain provides. Of course, the total price is usually higher than a fountain since a disappearing unit typically involves additional landscaping to integrate it properly into your landscape.

 

Use a do-it-yourself kit or call a professional installer. While not as simple as a fountain, a pondless waterfall unit is a straightforward system. Remember to use a GFCI outlet or circuit for the pump. Consider water source location when choosing a site. Finally, match the pump size to the desired sound to achieve your planned effect. You don’t want Niagara Falls’ thundering roar in your backyard when you seek a meadow stream’s tinkling whisper.

 

Like a fountain, a disappearing waterfall re-circulates a limited water supply. Therefore, regularly monitor algae and debris. Maintain a steady water level to avoid pump damage or failure. A timer, low water shutoff switch, and automatic-fill valve ease operational concerns. Nevertheless, make periodic checks making sure everything runs smoothly. An advantage of a disappearing unit is less (not “no”) maintenance. As with fountains, use environmentally friendly additives to control algae and reduce debris buildup (sludge).