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There are numerous reasons why we are so calm and peaceful when there is a water presence in our backyard gardens. Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe wrote that the underlying attraction of the movement of water is biological.

Photo Contributed

This colorful fountain is just one of many designs you can add to your garden this year.

"If we look more deeply we can see it as the basis of an abstract idea linking ourselves with the limitless mechanics of the universe," he said.

On a less philosophical vein, perhaps we just like to hear the trickle of water on a sunny summer afternoon. It soothes our senses and makes us feel that life is enchanted around us, even as we sip a cool drink and read a novel, away from all of it.

Either way, adding fountains to back-yard and patio gardens has become a major trend in Metro Moncton. Garden shops, home stores and even supermarkets are offering special deals on water features for our gardens. One thing has become clear. In 2008, just planting flowers in a garden does not seem to be enough.

The word "fountain" derives from the Latin word "fontis" meaning a spring, but the simple garden fountain most homeowners are added often uses recycled water or even tap water.

Regardless of the size or shape of the fountain, the result is the same. The element of splashing water from fountain jets adds life to the garden and demands our attention. It lulls out background noise and pushes us gently to focus on the blooms and greenery at hand.

In days of grand old estates, a walled garden with a fountain was a sanctuary. In medieval gardens, fountains were actually pool-size and used for washing. In later years, fountains became elaborate structures with intricate plumbing and amazing results.

Today, any home gardener can easily find a selection of available fountains on the market. There are ones with vertical water jets, with inclined water jets, and with interacting water sprays.

Still others have water columns or mist sprays or little drips. Waterfalls in fountains can be simple or complicated. Fountains can be basic containers or elaborate sculptures, depending on the investment available.

Besides freestanding water elements like small plug-in cascading fountains for the patio or a system of vertical piping, there are numerous wall-mounted fountains on the market. They are popular because they boost the beauty of the garden without taking up too much space.

The idea of adding a water element to your garden is not something you should rush into. Take your time and visit a number of garden centres to see what is offered. Take a measuring tape if you like, and write down dimensions to see if what looks great in a wide-open greenhouse will carry the same effect in your smaller backyard garden.

It is important to remember that the aesthetic qualities of a garden are not based simply on foliage and flowers. Fences, walls, columns, rocks, sand, tile and sculpture all play a role in creating the perfect outdoor oasis for summer.

There are numerous styles, colours and themes to the fountains available locally. The challenge is to interpret which will blend into and boost your own garden's impact.

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For your diary:

May 3 - Ken Beattie will be visiting Green Village in Moncton to host two seminars, one at 10 a.m. and one at 1 p.m. He will discuss 10 tips for successful gardening, what's hot for 2008, organic gardening and the good, the bad and the "bugly." Admission is $10 per person or $15 for both seminars.

May 3 - A seminar on Planting and Maintaining Home Orchards will be held at Corn Hill Nursery. Learn about varieties, cultivation and pruning. The session is from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, and there is no charge, but pre-registration is strongly advised as there is a limit of 50 people per seminar. To register call 506-756-3635.

May 10 - International Migratory Bird Day

May 16 - Official opening of 10th anniversary of Kingsbrae Garden in St. Andrews.

May 17 - A seminar on Dwarf and Unusual Conifers will be held at Corn Hill Nursery near Anagance. Expand the textures and colours in your garden. The session is from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, and there is no charge, but pre-registration is strongly advised as there is a limit of 50 people per seminar. To register call 506-756-3635.