Colonial Garden Fountains

 

The Colonial period is a term used for a specific period of American history. It is actually the period prior to it becoming the U.S.A. from when the first Europeans settled the land to the time of independence. Most people use the term to specifically in relation to the 13 British colonies which declared independence in 1776. At this very early stage in American history some of our most memorable characters lived their days and many of us like to enjoy various aspects of this period. Some of us like to indulge in decorating our house and home in the styles which were popular then and many like to use these things to influence the design of their gardens. Many people who live in very old houses like to install Colonial garden fountains and this will be the topic of the following article.

Colonial Garden Fountains

Because the Colonial period incorporates much of what we have examined in previous articles in this section are applicable I strongly suggest that you go and take a look (if you have not read them already).

Symmetrical Design: Symmetry is one of the most important elements of Colonial design. Symmetry plays a role in both the garden design and the design of the fountain. In most designs the preferred option is to place the fountain at the very center of the garden and then create symmetrical sections of the garden around it.

Classic Design: While symmetry has its role to play there are plenty of other things which influenced the people of that time. This is especially true in the art and design of the day which was heavily influenced by the preceding styles, such as Renaissance designs, and the radical changes which were going on around them. Cherubs and classic religious art were common features found in Colonial garden fountains and elements from Ancient Greece and Rome were also rather common.

Materials Used: Natural stone was the order of the day during the Colonial period. As I have stated elsewhere, not all of us can afford the luxury of stone and even the cheapest natural stone is often beyond the budget of your average gardener. Luckily Colonial garden fountains are rather popular so it is possible to find excellent examples which have been mass produced or, at the least, produced from a template, using much cheaper materials such as fiberglass.

It is important to remember that installing large versions of this type of water feature really works best if you design the garden around the fountain. In an existing garden it can be relatively easy to install small examples which can range from small standalone examples to those which you fit to the wall.

 

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