Use Fountains to Create Ambiance

Everyone wants ambiance in their home, but few people actually know how to create it. Fortunately, the world wide web makes it easy to find ideas and implement them in to our home dcor. You can even search for ideas for garden dcor if you really want to create an indoor and outdoor space that is beautiful and comfortable. One thing that you will surly want to include in your furnishings include fountains. There are just so many different types of fountains that will really make your home look and sound more peaceful and relaxing.

Indoors

There are many different types of fountains you may buy for the indoors. You may choose a small and affordable fountain that may be placed anywhere in the home. It would work especially great in the living room or even dining room to lend some extra tranquility to these busy areas. But, you may want o place the fountain on your desk, in the kitchen, bathroom, or even your bedroom. If you like fountains and the trickling of water then you may place it anywhere you feel it would benefit your home and you. You may even add a fountain in multiple rooms to create the ambiance you are looking for.

Outdoors

When you add a fountain to your outdoor area, whether it be a porch, garden, or yard, you will be able to go a little larger. Some people choose very large fountains to really create a focal point and a place to work from. If you can afford to do this then it certainly is a good idea because your home will only look better as a result. Not to mention you will love going outdoors and seeing and listening to your fountain.

Buying a Fountain

There is one thing you will want to keep in mind, however, and that is actually buying a fountain. You do not want to choose something that does not go with the interior of your home or the garden of your home so look for a fountain that reflects the style of your home. There are all kinds of fountains available from traditional to modern and classic to alternative. You will find some that are lighted and others that have rocks and even tall waterfalls. You will find the fountain you are looking for, it just takes time! So, shop around and see what you can find. You certainly will not find what you are looking for if you do not start looking.

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. Fortunately, the world wide web makes it easy to find ideas and implement them in to our home decor. You can even search for ideas for garden dcor if you really want to create an indoor and outdoor space that is beautiful and comfortable. There are just so many different types of fountains that will really make your home look and sound more peaceful and relaxing.

Deck Railings -Safety and Beauty Combined

Deck Railings Are A Necessity

Decks definitely need deck railings. In most cases, deck railings are necessary due to the building codes. If you are not going to follow the building codes, then you need to realize that you are setting yourself up for some painful consequences, including lawsuits, fines, and more. By simply adding railings to your deck, you will be able to save yourself the unnecessary harassment and the financial drain that may occur. A lower deck railing height than is required by the building codes is sometimes the corner that some people cut and there are some reasons why this is not safe.

Railings and Building Codes

Building codes are different depending upon where you live, but most of them have a law that says that if the deck is more than 3 feet from the ground or another horizontal surface, that you will need to have a way to protect from falls. A wall is an acceptable way to protect from falling, but a wall can be an obstruction to your view. This is a very costly way to meet the building code and it does not make you any safer than deck railing would.

Deck Railing Choices

Safety is the major reason for deck railings, but they can also add character and visual interest to your deck and home. You can even create an unusual look by using multicolored railings that will draw the eye. There are several different materials that you can use, including wood, PVC, aluminum, or even a combination of materials.

Railing Requirements

In railing installation, you need to keep two things in mind. These things are:

1. Railing Height: This is usually dictated by the building codes of your particular area. The height is usually at least 30 inches, but check with your local city or state building commission to ensure that your railings are the correct height.

2. Railing Construction: Depending upon the building codes, you will need to place your posts at intervals that are dictated to you. A proper deck railing needs to have a few different components, including a bottom rail, vertical rail, and a top rail. The bottom rail helps to make the railing look more complete. The vertical rails need to be spaced so that a child cannot get through the railings. A top railing may be one piece or two and they are used to give additional strength to the railing structure and to attach the verticals to. This is the piece that sees the most wear from hands and from weather.

Andrew Caxton contributes adding long articles on railing styles for http://www.deck-porch-railings.com . A website with tips on railing designs.

Indoor Ponds Keep Plants and Fish Healthy During Winter Months

If youve never seen an indoor fish pond or are of the mind that the only place for a fishpond is outdoors, its time to readjust your thinking. Many people love the idea of having a goldfish or Koi pond in their lawn and garden area but find the reality isnt always as wonderful as the fantasy.

Every winter runs the risk of losing the plant and fish life in your pond with the first freeze. As a result, more and more people are coming up with a method for bringing the outdoors, in and forming your very own pond indoors is a beautiful alternative to a tired old aquarium. While an indoor pond doesnt have to be beautiful in order to be functional, you can choose to make it a focal point and conversation piece quite easily.

A fairly simple and inexpensive way to craft an indoor pond this winter season is by using interlocking landscaping blocks to form a basic outline, and place a pre molded plastic pond liner (to avoid leaks), and other landscaping items such as rocks, plants, and soil in order to fill in the gaps. Others have even used a plastic kiddie pool for the fish and disguised the pool by hiding it with bricks or landscaping rocks.

The main purpose of indoor ponds is to protect your fish and plant life from the extreme winter weather conditions. It is quite easy to move the fish and plants from one pond to another. Be sure to keep the indoor pond regulated for temperature and water freshness by using proper equipment. Taking these precautions should keep your Koi fish and your plants healthy throughout the harsher winter months.

Rob Buenaventura invites you to ArtificialGardens. Here we provide tips and benefits on Koi Ponds. For additional information on Koi Fish Supplies check out ArtificialGardens for your water gardening needs at http://www.artificialgardens.com

Small Shrubs and Bushes - Their Importance in a Garden Design

The design question that will almost inevitably arise in most garden situations is that which relates to the space between the hedge or shrubs and trees that border a garden, and the ground plain which takes up the majority of the area. This ground plain usually comprises of a lawn, but an alternative material like a wooden deck is often the desired option particularly in dry climates. Whether a lawn, deck or some other material is chosen, the same question remains - what is to be done in the foreground between it and the hedge or shrubbery? This is where low or dwarf shrubs and bushes come in.

Low shrubs can be classified as woody plants that cover the ground up to a height of about 50cm or so. Their primary function visually, is to fill up the space at this low but not necessarily prostrate height. In this way they cover and hopefully beautify the space between the ground and the point where the larger shrubs or hedging plants start to grow. They should be considered before other design options such as herbaceous and flowering perennials for a number of reasons.

Dwarf bushes provide a low maintenance solution. While herbaceous plants, whether annual or perennial, require constant attention, such as very frequent clipping and pruning, small shrubs generally need only be pruned once or twice a year if at all.

In this way, they serve as a stable element in the garden. Flower beds by their very nature are constantly changing, with plants being cut down, divided and re-planted, or replaced altogether. There is a place for this of course in the garden, and indeed large areas taken up by low maintenance dwarf bushes actually free up valuable time for the proper attention that herbaceous beds require.

Many dwarf shrubs are modest in their water requirements and some can even be defined as water conserving plants. This means that in a typically Mediterranean climate, with an annual rain fall of say 450mm, they can be grown by consuming about 200-300mm of irrigation water per year, i.e. 200-300 liters per square meter. By way of comparison, a perennial bed will need at least 500mm per year, while annuals often gulp up over 1,000 mm, or 1 cubic meter per square meter per year.

By reducing the amount of flowers and concentrating them in smaller, well defined groups in the garden, the opportunity arises of designing flower beds that function as focal points and not just as smatterings of colour in the garden. The creation of focal points should be one of the compositional aims of the design.

So if you're being overwhelmed by the amount of work needed to maintain your flower beds, or herbaceous borders, then you may wish to consider redesigning some of them by replacing the herbaceous material with low, shrubs and bushes. Here are some examples that I recommend from over 20 years experience gardening in Israel.

Pittosporum tobira "Wheelers Dwarf"

Coprosma repens - There are a number of different varieties including dark-leaved plants and those with variegated foliage.

Melaleuca sp."Green Dome"

Ficus sp."Green Island"

Asparagus densiflorus "Sprengeri" group

Juniperus sp. - Low growing varieties

In addition, a number of shrubs which grow vertically, such as Nandina domestica, or Junipers like the upright variety "Kaizuka", can be judiciously placed for accent and emphasis.

About the author - Jonathan Ya'akobi

I've been gardening in a professional capacity since 1984. I am the former head gardener of the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, but now concentrate on building gardens for private home owners. I also teach horticulture to students on training courses. I'd love to share my knowledge and experience with you.

So you're welcome to visit me on http://www.dryclimategardening.com

Evaporative Water Cooler - This Water Cooled Condensing Unit Is No Swamp Cooler

This unique cooling technology from Freus, shouldnt be confused with a swamp cooler. Although water is used to assist with the cooling, it is sprayed over condensing coils rather than pads.

The water cooled condensing unit is a residential application of the 250 ton split system chillers already used by commercial buildings. Think of this technology as a mini-chiller for residential use.

Evaporative water cooler units for split system air conditioners have a number of advantages over air-cooled units. Water removes heat from the condenser coils far more efficiently than air. This reduces the temperature of the compressed R-22 refrigerant, which in turn reduces the work load of the scroll compressor. Not only will the compressor last much longer, there is only a minimal loss of cooling efficiency when the outdoor temperature exceeds 100 degrees.

Typical air cooled units can lose as much as 25% of their efficiency at the same temperature.

How much can you save with a water cooled condensing unit?

Charles Mullin, a casino worker who lives in North Las Vegas is also single. So every utility bill comes from his lone paycheck. That's why he switched the air conditioning system on his 1,500-square-foot home to a water cooled condensing unit.

"Before I installed it, I had my thermostat set at 75 to 78 degrees to try to keep my electric bills down," he said. "I tested the new system at 65 degrees - felt like a meat locker. My bill went down to $86. That's about a 45-percent savings and the house was set cooler."

Mullin told all his friends about the units and the savings he's seen. He figured the Freus system will pay for itself in about two years.

Richard Waite, president of Hal Mechanical, installer of Mr. Mullins water cooled AC, said they are specifically made for the desert climate.

The only extra that's needed to swap out an old air conditioning unit for a new water-cooled one is to run a water line to it. The unit has an automated system, similar to a toilet tank, keeping the water at the correct capacity. The system also flushes itself to avoid calcium buildup.

Due to the almost constant capacity, the condenser size does not need to vary due to climate zones, like air-cooled units. The Freus is installed in much the same manner as an air-cooled condenser and has the unique ability to service multiple air handlers. This provides the space saving convenience of housing two or three compressors (up to 10 total tons) in a single cabinet.

Jim Kilby of Green Valley, a casino management professor, replaced his 10-year-old air conditioning units, one 5-ton and one 3-ton, with two water-cooled ones of roughly the same capacity. He figures his electric bills dropped by a third.

"The hotels have been using this technology for years," Kilby said. "When you think about it, water does a better job of cooling the air than air. It just makes sense."

Whether you call them evaporative water coolers or water cooled condensing units, this mini version of the 250 ton chiller is sure to revolutionize desert cooling.

Alternative-Heating-Info.com offers a unique look into geothermal heating and cooling, radiant heating, solar heating systems and pellet burning stoves.

How To Brighten Up Your Home With These Flower Arrangement Ideas

A beautiful flower arrangement piece can become the focal point of the room you choose to decorate. It's truly fascinating how we can combine different flowers to create a mesmerizing bouquet. With the vast selection of colors, fragrances and shapes, you can create or readily buy a flower arrangement piece that will speak to you and others walking in the room what you want to communicate.

First thing to do is decide where you will be placing your flower arrangement. Will it be placed on the floor in your hall, on top of a piece of furniture?

What about the space where your arrangement will sit? Will you need a finished piece that is tall, round, wide or full? What is the decor of the room you've selected that will contrast powerfully with your flowers?

Don't limit your creativity!

There are several design styles you can choose from and we have included a variety of design here for you to get those creative juices flowing.

Use these as a guide to creating your own flower arrangement style. Pictures of the flower arrangements below can be found at our site.

Bud Vases

A bud vase with a single stem or several stems of your favorite flower(s) is a simple but elegant flower arrangement piece. Cut your flower stems to about twice the height of your vase. To enhance your flowers beauty, also include some linear foliage.

One tip I will give you with bud vases is to be imaginative. If you don't have a bud vase, recycle any beautiful glass containers you have lying around the house such as perfume bottles or any other.

Basket Arrangement

A basket flower arrangement brightens up your favorite room very well. They make perfect gifts for a housewarming occasion, birthday, or to send and cheer a loved one who is sick.

Baskets come in all sizes and shapes and if you are designing your own basket arrangement, you can find the one that will be perfect for you. There is so much you can do with flower baskets - let your creativity run wild!

Garden Arrangements

Don't these flower arrangements look like you've picked them from your garden?

After years of living in the city in an apartment block, I have now the great fortune of living in the suburbs and I've taken great pains to create a heavenly garden filled with white and red roses, carnations and lilies. With greenery surrounding their flower beds, my little garden looks like a little paradise.

Centerpieces And Table Arrangements

The trick for a successful centerpiece or table arrangement is not to make them too tall as to obstruct views across your dining table.

Choose or create the piece to generate the mood you want to achieve. Flowers at your table will enhance the dinning experience.

About The Author

Copyright Gina Stathopoulos

Looking for a gift? Let Gina and Nick show you what we buy for friends/family and each other. At our site you will find popular gifts, gift information and stories from our readers. Come have a look http://www.we-recommend.com

Why Use Or Make Compost Tea

We all know that compost is a wonderful material especially those that practice organic gardening. What could be better than compost? Well how about compost tea. When you begin with good quality compost you will end up with a complete solution of nutrients and bacteria for all your gardening feeds.

Compost tea helps:

keep diseases off the plant with the many bacteria that it has.

Provide an abundance of food needed for good growth.

Destroy any toxins that hurt the plant.

Improve the flavor and taste of vegetables.

Produce more vibrant flowers.

So why not give this tea a try either by buying it or brewing it yourself. You can now in many good nurseries buy this tea or start brewing the tea yourself.

The results will amaze you, so get started!

The good bacteria that is available in the tea will compete for the plants food. Hunt out the bad critters and eat them up. Helps make the antibiotics to prevent those bad critters. And scare the bad varmints so they don't attack your plants.

Compost tea that is made in an accurate manner has a abundance of microorganisms which will help your plants growth and overall health as well as the soil that the microorganisms live in. It can be regarded as the yogurt for the soil. The organisms living in the soil are both bad and good. What the tea does is make sure the good guys win By bringing in useful protozoa, bacteria, beneficial nematodes and fungi the tea shows it is the hero needed to save the soil.

When you have good air circulation the bad bacteria cannot live in the soil. But good bacteria will thrive in soil that is well vented with air. Produced the right way this is when compost tea races in. If you have well aerated compost solution you have gotten relieve from of three-quarters of the harmful varmints.

When you use toxic insecticides or chemical fertilizers we quash the amount of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.

Mainly plants make their own vigorous activity and food and one-half of that is delivered to the roots and much of that breaks down into the bordering soil and have you ever wondered who receives that? Right, the goody-goody guys, and then it changes into a beneficial repetition.

Compost tea is made by many different recipes using compost as a beginning substance and making a liquid solution obtained by steeping or soaking a substance. Today, there are many different ways to make a homemade brewery or you can buy in nurseries or online to make your tea. With the advancing technology changing everyday there are bigger and better efforts to better costs and efficiency.

In addition, there are likely as many formulas for compost tea as there are for recipes for chili in Tennessee, with better plans on improvements and a concentration on its utilization for more specialized applications. For example, if you are making compost tea to fight plant pathogens, the inclination is to have as much microbial variety as feasible. While you are brewing the tea many gardeners are adding supplements to the mix like additional bacteria and fungi.

Expecting the best about compost tea is high, but realizing its limitations and having down-to-earth expectations are essential. One comes to mind is when to use this concoction and that is almost immediately after brewing. Since you are presenting live organisms you want them to be alive when application is done.

An excellent reason for making compost tea is to transport microbial mass of living matter, fine organic matter, and soluble chemical elements of compost into an aqueous stage that can be put on soils and plant surfaces in ways not accomplishable or economically possible with regular compost.

Jim's articles are from extensive research on each of his topics and life-long experience. You can learn more by visiting: organic fertilizers and compost tea.