How to Make Your Garden More Eco-Friendly

In the Spirit of Earth Day and in light of the recent scientific finding regarding the onset of Global Warming, we begin to look back on what we have done and look ahead on what we can do to contribute to a greener planet. There are ways that we can do to reduce waste, greenhouse gas emissions, minimize the use or find alternatives for the use of harmful chemicals and make manufacturing processes more efficient. One thing that we can do is transform our garden in to an environmentally friendly miniature ecosystem. Be more conscious of the elements that you choose to add on your garden. Here are some simple tips that you can use to contribute more to the environment and enjoy all the benefits your backyard can give at the same time.

Self contained water features.

Using water fountains, water gardens and garden ponds that circulate water used will save consumption of water and creates a natural environment in which birds, butterflies and frogs can thrive. Even the smallest water fountain combined with a tree, shrubs or flowers can provide temporary refuge to wildlife that are displaced due to construction, development and even weather disturbances.  Take that extra mile by setting up solar powered water fountains as they rely only on suns energy for power. It’ll save precious natural resources and will lower down your monthly electricity bill.

Solar lighting

Solar lights are a great way to provide a safe and secure surroundings and creates a positive ambiance to your backyard environment for all to benefit. Solar lights collect energy from the suns rays during the day and release the energy at night powering the lights. Since they are cordless, they can be placed to just about anywhere without any danger of tripping down the lines. It’ll surely provide you with beautiful lighting that will let you save money on your electric bills and save Earths precious resources. If you’d like more information on how solar lighting works, how to choose solar lighting for your yard, and how you can benefit from the use of solar outdoor lights, check out

Reduce Use of Harmful Chemicals

These harmful chemicals seeps into the Earths soil every day, destroying plant life, killing wildlife and contaminating our water supply. We should prevent this from happening by making sure we do our part by reducing the use of harmful chemicals or find alternatives such as organic fertilizers and pesticides. Organic fertilizers and pesticides are cheap and are easy to find. They can now be found in large home and garden retail chains such as Lowes and Home Depot. Care2.com provides a comprehensive Healthy Home guide that will give you some suggestions and additional tips on how to contribute more to your environment without the use of any harmful chemicals.

Use native plants

Native plants reduce water use, lesser need for fertilizers and pesticides, and most importantly, they provide natural habitat for wildlife as they can adapt to changing climates. They are also required less maintenance overtime. Native plants are eye catchers and preserve the areas natural heritage. The Natural Park Service website explains more on how important having to use native plants on landscaping projects.

Purchase Eco-Friendly Outdoor Furniture

Eco-friendly furniture is manufactured in an environmentally friendly process. Sustainable materials are used by wood harvesters. They reduce damage done to forest while harvesting, avoid over-harvesting, protect endangered species and their habitats, dispose of by-products in responsible ways, and protect the rights of people indigenous to the areas where materials are harvested. This type of furniture is also use recycled or natural materials that are free from harmful chemicals that could damage the environment

Our homes is more than just a shelter. They give us comfort, security, a breathing space from the outside environment and an expression of our interest and personalities, and a place for our memories that we treasure for a lifetime. Home plays such a very important part in our daily lives. It is a place where we spend time with our family. It is important and should be given a priority in making the place tranquil and comfortable. Water features such as water fountain can bring a sense of balance and harmony in a way that no other object can.

The soothing qualities of nature sounds can relieve tension in our bodies and minds and  clears away negative emotions, helps us think more clearly and relieves tension in our bodies and minds. There are alternatives that mimics artificial nature sounds in a form of gadgets but are all hollow in helping people to relax and sleep better. Sounds coming from a genuine water will yield you better results. A tabletop fountain, freestanding floor fountain and wall fountain provides that live nature sound that of a flowing water or other water feature can provide your home the much needed peace and tranquility. In addition to soothing nature sound that these fountains produce, you can benefit from the negative ions that are produced by these fountains. Negative ions are well known to improve your health, vitality and mood. More and more negative ions are pumped in to the air of your home as water from fountains continue on dripping. Water fountains and other water feature can be placed in any corners in any rooms around the house from your bedroom, kitchen, living room or home office. Your children can receive the same benefit from your indoor water fountain. What it does is block the outside noises from your child’s room, fills the air inside the room with negative ions blocking out those positive ions and as a result, they will have a sound sleep and quicker bedtime routine.

But what if you want a wall fountain and don’t have a lot of space? What you will be looking for is the Whispering Creek Wall Water Fountain that measure 22 wide, 45 tall and 5 deep. The Whispering Creek Water Wall comes in slate and mirror surfaces and several trim options. There are other designs to choose from as well. For a larger fountain, the Inspiration Falls Wall Fountain will give you that elegant look and receive the same benefits as any other water feature you have in your room.

A Galaxy Art Wall fountain will give you that craftsmanship, individuality and scale of a museum art piece. Galaxy Art fountains are beautiful, unique and functional art piece and a hand-painted fine art fountain by Harvey Gallery. The High Tide Wall Water Fountain is a tranquil scene that will transport you to a scenic locale everytime you look at it. There are several designs available under Harvey Gallery as well. His collection includes, Japanese Bridge, a vineyard, a silhouetted tree at twilight and the long time favourite for children’s room, an aquarium scene.

Most offices are plain, gloomy, windowless rooms with harsh overhead lighting, drop ceilings and worn, dirty carpet, phones ringing, printers humming, computer keys are crackling and people around seems to have a never ending story to tell. Stress and eye strain from staring at the computer monitor too long, and headaches are beginning to take effect later the day. If you have an office similar to this, chances are, you hate your office no matter how much you love your job.

Good news is you will be able to change or prevent these things from happening by adding a little bit of nature in to your office to help you relax, relieving the stress from your mind and body keeping you charged until the end of the day. Indoor Water fountains are excellent choices under these conditions. It can be neatly place on top of your desk without getting in the way with everyone. It’ll humidify the air and releases negative ions that will counter positive ions emanating from office equipment and it’ll greatly reduce stress level, improve your immune system to fight off that nasty headaches. Tabletop fountains are excellent focal points if you want to get your away from your computer monitor for a while and away from paper works for just a minute to rest your eyes or take a small breather. It is also very economical. You won’t be spending a lot of fortune to get that calm, tranquil environment in to your workspace.

Here are some inexpensive water features that you can get for your workspace to help soothe your co-workers:

Contempo Luna Wall Fountain

This contemporary water feature is perfect for a modern looking office.  Silver Mirror with Stainless Steel Trim this water feature is the perfect size water feature that wont kill your budget.  Easy to assemble, you can place this mirror wall fountain anywhere.

Whispering Creek Wall Fountain

The Whispering Creek Wall Fountain is available in several trim options so you are sure to find a model that will meet your office decor. The Slate Water Wall Measures 22” across and stands 46” tall, this slate wall fountain is a great way to seek refuge to from all of your office stress.

Mini Moonshadow Tabletop Fountain

Made by Water Wonders, this elegant beauty is made up of real slate, clear coated natural copper and river rocks will transport you to quite lake in the woods, surrounded by a cool fresh air and a gentle hum of falling rain. Multiple streams of water pour over the slate, onto the river the rocks and into the basin below for a beautiful water sound that will ease your worries and stress away.

Floor Fountains: Improving Your Home Decor

Having a fountain at home is great, because water can bring peace, calm and serenity. The perfect water fountain can bestow these things through the soft peaceful sounds of flowing water. Fountains will serve as natural humidifiers, adding moisture to a dry room.

You will get the soothing sound of running water, instead of the noise from the fan in a regular humidifier. Fountains do not contribute to mold and mildew like ordinary humidifiers are known to do. Fountains can help revitalize your indoor plants with the extra humidity which is lost due to heat and air units.

The stress when you reach home from work, the cubicle environment, knows how much personal stress it can develop, with neck and shoulder pain, headache, increased blood pressure, shallow breathing. Imagine taking this entire stress home with you. Running water inside your home from your fountain can take away stress.

Water, the essence of life, finds charming expression in floor water fountains it can provide a grounding connection to nature. The imaginative play involved in selecting a water fountain meets other needs, too, for self-expression, relaxation, and creativity. Indoor water fountains are wonderful stress reducers and room beautifiers.

Fountain is your first step to a new level of relaxation and awareness. Your goal is to reach a higher sense of peace, calm and serenity. The perfect water fountain can bestow these things through the soft peaceful sounds of flowing water.

A large floor fountain can really become a main feature in a room. These models are also very diverse. The surface over which the water flows down is glass, slate or a resin composite in most floor standing models. Artificial light is incorporated in several floor standing water fountain models. This adds another dimension to the feature.

An indoor water fountain is a living work of art, a dynamic visual display that is never the same from one moment to the next. The soothing sounds of a waterfall help focus the mind, and bring the tranquility of a mountain stream into any room in your home. As if this wasn’t enough, waterfalls also produce negative ions, tiny electrically charged particles that help you feel more alert and relaxed.

Floor fountains are unique as they offer the same health benefits of all fountains but they are more versatile in their placement in your home or garden. They can stand freely anywhere and can even be used to create a barrier from another room. At the same time, they can be placed up against a wall so that they can be viewed without being in your way. The waterfall effect that floor fountains feature are also quite dramatic and will enhance the serenity of any room they are located in, or they just look classic freestanding in your backyard garden.

Indoor floor water fountains follow the same concept as the table top fountain, but in a larger format. Floor water fountains are typically more vertical than horizontal and are the most costly water feature that the average home owner might consider. Floor water fountains are easy to install. The cord can be very easily hidden.

Fountains, whether floor, indoor, wall or outdoor fountains, are a great way to bring the outdoors in or just enhance your outdoor living area. In order to keep your fountains running at optimum performance, there are certain maintenance steps that you need to make in order to keep your fountain flowing.

·         Check the fountain’s water level and add fresh water every 2-7 days.  Some fountains go through more water than others if they splash and water naturally evaporates over time.

·         If the water in your fountain goes below the intake level of the pump you will hear a slurping sound coming from the fountain’s pump.  This could damage your pump and cause it to burn out if you do not keep the water level up.

·         If you are concerned about your fountain running out of water, it is a great idea to place it on a timer so that it will automatically turn off and on at set times.

·         If your fountain begins to grow algae, you may add sea salt, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide or bleach to the water to prevent algae growth.  If you add bleach or hydrogen peroxide you do not want your animals to drink this water.

·         To prevent algae growth in indoor fountains, keep the fountain out of direct sunlight as sunlight promotes algae growth.

·         Clean your fountain every month to three months.  All parts of the fountain should be taken apart and cleaned.  It is recommended that you use a toothbrush, detergent and warm water for cleaning.  Clean rocks, bowls and shells in the fountain as well.

·         Disassemble your fountain’s pump and clean the inside, as algae and mineral deposits commonly build up in the pump and may limit its ability to function properly.

·         Fountain pumps are not designed to work outside of water and should always be immersed when running.

·         Protect the area beneath your fountain from water.  Plexiglas and plastic works well.  Most fountains are designed to run without splashing, but if something interferes with the running water it may splash.

·         For the best performance from your fountain, use rain water or distilled water in your fountain.

By following these simple steps and guidelines you will have a fountain that is a joy to hear and watch for a long time to come and a fountain that will run at optimum performance for years to come.