For centuries water has been used in many different ways, some people use it for transportation, others use it for enjoyment and for many people it can be used for relaxation. The beauty of outdoor fountains is they can be used in so many different ways and integrated into your garden to provide you with a unique water feature that you can enjoy for many years to come.

When you look at adding an outdoor fountain into your garden take a step back and consider the many benefits that come along once the feature has been put in place. One way that many people look to add the fountains is with existing water features, for example why stop at just having a pond in your garden when you can integrate an outdoor fountain and enhance your existing feature into something extra special. Not only will you benefit from the naturally relaxing flow of the water as it passes over the fountain but it will bring new life to your existing pond. Flowing water as you would expect adds oxygen into the pond which will encourage the development of pond life and help to keep the pond clean and clear. If you have fish in your pond the water flow will also provide them with a better and more natural environment and keep them healthy and vibrant for longer.

Of course not everyone has a pond in their garden and the beauty of outdoor fountains is you do not need one to still enjoy owning one. There are so many different uses for the fountains and for many people it is just about having a decorative item that will improve the ambience of their garden or patio space. Just by looking at an outdoor fountain this will instantly promote the feeling of wellbeing and will encourage you to relax and take more time out to enjoy the peace and quiet of your own space. If you have an area in your garden which you are finding it hard to think about ideas on how you can improve it or make use of it then consider adding a fountain to the space, the outdoor fountains are extremely versatile and as such they are the ideal decorative features to use if you need to liven up or brighten up an existing area.

There are so many different designs and styles too choose from it is hard to decide upon which will be best suited to your garden or patio, and there are no hard and fast rules on what type you should have so you can be as creative as you please. These are just some of the ways and benefits you can gain when you look to add an outdoor fountain to your garden and no matter which type you choose you will be sure to consider it a wonderful purchase.

Chris Courtis
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/outdoor-fountains-enjoying-the-benefits-681605.html

The water taxi of Oklahoma City is an attraction that distinctively belongs here. It’s one of the examples of the ingenuity of the city to come up with ideas that make life more enjoyable for its residents and visitors.

The water taxi, as the name suggests, is a taxi service that operates on water. Oklahoma’s Bricktown entertainment district features the Bricktown Canal that traverses through the district covering all the important entertainment and other destinations along the way. If you wish to check out the sights and sounds of life in Oklahoma City and the shops and activities along the banks of the canal, the best way to do it is to board a water taxi, have a comfortable ride, experience life in Bricktown firsthand before getting dropped at the Harkins Theatres, or one of the many eateries along the banks including Earl’s Rib Palace, Falcone’s Pizzeria, or Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill.

The other destinations a water taxi of Oklahoma City connects include the Red Pin Bowling Lounge, Residence Inn by Mariott and the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. The dock to board a water taxi from, the Bricktown Riverwalk, is itself located below Mickey Mantle Boulevard and in close proximity to the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.

A water taxi arrives every 10-15 minutes at the dock. One can board the water taxi here, from other docks in lower Bricktown, or the dock at the west end of the stream that leads to the Bass Pro Shops. The added advantage of boarding a water taxi of Oklahoma City is that you get valuable information about Bricktown from the “Water Taxi Ambassador”. Tickets can be purchased online at bricktownwatertaxi.com, from the ticket booth at the main dock or at Oklahoma’s Red Dirt Emporium.

Hotels in Oklahoma City can connect you to these boarding points through their shuttle services. There’s nothing like the water taxi of Oklahoma City to get to the heart of Bricktown and the city.

Shane Wauhob
http://www.articlesbase.com/cruising-articles/water-taxi-of-oklahoma-city-750532.html

Little wonder that modern attitudes towards gardens and what they represent have evolved from traditional views over the last fifty years. Not so long ago, the garden was ‘an area’ intended to be enjoyed, easy to maintain, yet full of variety and ideally providing colour throughout the year. In fact apart from children running around playing, mowing the lawn and deciding how and when best to prune the fruit trees, gardens were considered more in visual terms, in other words within the garden space, form took precedent over any garden activity.  This traditional perspective has been dramatically overtaken partly because of the vast array of new garden products featuring innovative technologies but mainly by the dynamic changes in modern living and working habits.

Yes gardens have become smaller and people generally have less time for garden maintenance activities, but most will demand more and spend (both time and money) more in getting the outdoor space right for them and enjoying more time outdoors, whether it is alone or with family and friends.

No matter whether you consider your garden large or small, traditional or minimalist, it should not be seen as merely an asset to add value your home or property but more importantly as an asset that enhances your outdoor living lifestyle.

A place to sit

We probably spend more time in the garden sitting and eating than any other activity. So it is vital the layout of the outdoor space takes this important aspect into account. Invariably the sitting and eating activities take place on or the near the patio areas. Not long ago patios were constructed from poured concrete or even concrete flags. In more advanced gardens, crazy paving invariably broken pieces of natural stone were used. Today’s choice is vast including an extensive range of natural stone which includes bestsellers like Sandstone, Granite and Limestone to name but a few. Unquestionably Sandstone available in a wide range of sizes and colours is a top seller and the preferred choice by far of most people. Natural stone demanding little maintenance is still the preferred choice over other patio alternatives such as man made products and decking. Locating the patio in the sunniest part of the garden is obvious but you would be surprised to discover how frequently this prized location in the garden is occupied by the garden shed. Monitor the sun movements throughout the day to determine what is the best position for the patio. Most prefer sunny positions late afternoon or early evening but some might prefer dappled shade during midday. So choose a location for the patio where and when you’re most likely to use it most. Patios should be level so that you have no trip hazards at joints or patio chairs do not annoyingly rock each time you shift position. They should also have a slight slope or fall for rain to run off. A typical fall is 25mm in 1000mm (approx 1:40). Fall should not be confused with sloping sites which can be cleverly utilised to create split or different levels in the patio. In other words do not be too quick to level sloping ground instead seek new ideas to develop imaginative patio forms.  In larger sites it is not uncommon to find two or more patios, designed to take full advantage of the sun at specific times.

Plants please

Of all the elements that go to make up your perfect garden, plants after structure are the essential component. The choice of plants today is practically endless, whether your preference is evergreen or deciduous (shed leaf in autumn), lime haters or lime tolerant, 

prefer sunny or shade, dry or damp, open or sheltered conditions. Also how you use plants in the garden can yield specific effects on overall garden size and style. Some plants may be planted as sole specimens, i.e. the centre of attention in a low level bed or to provide a screening requirement. Others may be planted as informal i.e. natural groups or formally to create dramatic geometric patterns.

Ideally plants should be used in as naturalistic way possible so as to enhance the desired look whether it is to follow a gentle curve or sometimes affect the overall appearance. For example, trees and shrubs can be cleverly used to disguise a long narrow garden to make it appear broader in effect, conversely plants can also be used to lengthen broad gardens which are not very long by using the taller plants nearer the house and shorter further away to create a perspective effect that makes the garden appear longer.

Although plants may be used in a variety of ways, it is well worth considering the maintenance aspects before making final selection. There is little point in planting large varieties in confined spaces and despite repeated cutting and pruning neither plant nor gardener will ever be happy. Instead choose plants carefully, consider mature heights and spread not just what the label states ‘…in ten years…’ because plants continue to grow. Instead try to determine what is actual plant height and spread at maturity. Pick plants to suit the suit site’s soil, prevailing conditions and size. This way you will have plants that will flourish and require little or no cutting.

Borders can be straight but better to have gentle curves. Avoid intricate curves and above all pathways that dissect the lawn which will destroy the open aspect and make the garden appear smaller. Instead position pathway to oneside. Ideally borders with at least two or three planting lines look far more interesting. The backline representing usually the taller varieties are the all year round backbone with the middle and lower foreground lines providing seasonal impact. Beds should be at least 900 mm- 1,200 mm deep and to conceal structures like rotary lines or garden sheds might be larger than 2.000mm or more.

For added interest, try to use plants and shrubs with contrasting shapes, heights and colours all linked in a gentle flowing manner around the garden. More impact can be achieved by planting in groups and here think odd as best., i.e. plant in groups of 3,5,7,9 etc for effect. Group planting can be very effective to emphasise the curve nature of the border. Also better to allow at least 100mm-150mm clear space between front line plants and lawn edge, this are can be easily maintained and looks particularly attractive when edged with mini-chip bark mulch dressing. Alternative lawn edgings are available including brick, stone which are a very effective long-term solutions to defining lawn-bed boundary but also providing a useful (lawn must be at least 20mm above height of stone) mowing strip and standing area for any seasonal maintenance work.

Raising your spirits

Raised Beds are becoming a very popular feature for more gardens, not only do they provide added height and hence presence to particular planting arrangements but a great solution to creating soil conditions required for specific groups of plants not found in other parts of the garden. Here azaleas, rhododendrons, forest flames all with spectacular foliage and flower characteristics and are easy to grow so long as the soil is lime free soil. These soil conditions are easy to create in raised beds. Raised beds can be positioned against boundary walls or more prominently as island beds within paved areas. Raised beds may be constructed form brick, natural stone and a variety of timbers can also be used to create attractive enclosures for water features. Trailing bedding plants can be used to great effect in Raised Beds.

Watered Features

There are a wide range of types and sizes but nowadays people choice is influenced by the safety aspects and low maintenance requirements, hence the popularity of Reservoir features typically positioned on or near patio area where they are best enjoyed for both visual and the soothing sound effects of trickling water. In more contemporary gardens stainless steel columns are a popular choice. Irrespective of your style preference, water features add a new dimension to any garden. All that is required is careful attention to detailing, a thoughtful selection of plants, e.g. ferns, ornamental grasses combined with natural river cobblestones create superb compositions and very pleasing features to admire.

The meaning of Light

Lighting is really a must have in the garden. It can not only make an ordinary garden look spectacular revealing an aspect unseen during daylight, but come nightfall the silhouettes of trees and shrubs against textured walls take on a whole new meaning. Just as much as gardens can be visually admired for their interest during daylight, lighting offers a whole new dimension to the meaning of beauty in the garden albeit at nightime. There are many lighting effects to be considered including: spread lighting across access paths, uplighting to direct light up through the branches and trunks of trees or up the walls of buildings, spot lighting can be used to illuminate a statue or water feature and downlighting is typically used to illuminate steps.

Contained Treasures

Growing plants in containers whether it is seasonal summer planting and/or all year round planting is an important dimension to the planting aspects of gardens. Much easier and less costly to introduce to a garden, containers be they urns, planters or humble terracotta pots can be very cleverly used to add high drama and bold colour schemes to areas within the garden. Container planting also permits the growing of plants which might be too vigorous to grow in open ground because of lack of available space or other limitations. Bamboos are fantastic container plants so too are Japanese maples but require sheltered conditions which may not be available in open beds during winter months. Containers can be very useful mobile units to locate around patio to great effect. Try bringing fragrance (lavender, santolina, helichrysum or rosemary) nearer the patio. For added impact try and use three plant types per container, i.e. place tall specimen in centre, small compacts in corners and trailers between corners.

In summary

For some of us relaxing in the garden is nothing more than sitting out or swinging in the hammock, usually in the sun but perhaps increasingly in dappled shade. Whether alone or with family and friends, sitting or eating, dozing or entertaining, living outdoors is a major aspect of how we relax and sometimes let’s be honest, a popular place ‘to get away from it all.’ Today’s outdoor living spaces reflect our preferred ‘approach to interior living’ and hence the common link to bring the indoors out or take the garden in. Irrespective of how you express it, more and more people are demanding more from the outdoor living space and wish to integrate it more with the established ‘interior world’ both visually but also how and what activities take place outdoors. How we use the outdoor living space is increasingly becoming more important than how it looks. In other words today’s homeowners are demanding more functionality from the gardens, yes, you guessed it, form follows function, is the prevailing principle and the smarter approach to determining the outdoor living space.

Owen Chubb is Director of Owen Chubb Garden Landscapes Limited, an established and award winning landscaping company offering clients a complete landscaping service including Garden Design, Construction and Planting. A full member of the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland (ALCI), the only professional body for landscape contractors and proud winners in 2005 of the prestigious ALCI Award for BEST PRIVATE GARDEN (Over € 13,000 Category). Tel 087-206 128 / 01-492 0904 www.owenchubblandscapers.com

Owen Chubb
http://www.articlesbase.com/landscaping-articles/the-summer-garden-for-outdoor-living-693333.html

I’m a mom, soon to be of 2. I love taking pictures of kids (play-dates & such), family & outside. I had a camera that you could pick a color & would take a black & white picture with, we’ll say I picked red, red g out in red. I got an updated version of that camera & it’s ‘color accent’ feature doesn’t do that like my only one did. (my old one was actually my parents-who have now reclaimed it back). My new camera got spilled on & is shot so I am looking to replace it…I’m thinking this time maybe with something water resistant/proof. I don’t really know much about cameras& it’s SO over whelming trying to research them-I’m hoping for some advice from someone who actually knows cameras.
I’d like a small, hand-held size preferably.
Something with cool picture taking options, such as the color-accent, & different photo options (winter, kids, indoor, outdoor, etc)
a glass lens
water resistant if not proof
under $300

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Olympus+-+Stylus+Tough+10.0-Megapixel+Digital+Camera+-+Orange/9224118.p?id=1218062133460&skuId=9224118

Do you want to enjoy the outdoor world caged within interior beauty? Free from mosquitoes, escape from bugs, nasty natural weather conditions and intense harmful UV rays? Then building a Temo sunroom in home exteriors should be your first option. In earlier days Temo sunrooms were built from simple homemade concepts of wood posts and stapled screens to surround the front and back porches for keeping out unwanted elements. But over the years, the concept of Temo sunroom has undergone fast developments and today it comes designed with screened-in-porch systems, roof systems, and advanced thermal window systems. So today Temo sunrooms are the result of an engineering wonder and creative marvel in the construction industry.

Numbered in with various facetted features the temo sunrooms are designed in a way you want to utilize them. For example, you can use it as your living room, sitting room, guest room or your kitchen, but you need to install various features that will be amply evident of its immediate use. With these new features implemented, the temo sunrooms become a far cry from the “box on a house” concept. Therefore the sophisticated look and the advanced features of temo sunrooms are amply evident of its varied usage in contemporary lifestyle.

Features Of Temo Sunrooms

Before you proceed further with your thoughts of building a temo sunroom in your home, you should be amply aware of its outstanding features. The temo sunrooms showcase in itself the wonderful wall and window systems, exclusive roof systems, and unique door systems. To begin with the wall and window system, it has internal weep system that channels the water away from the room. The exclusive indestructible exterior/interior polymer surface prevents any type of denting, scratching, chalking, fading and blocking of UV penetrations to protect the insulations.

The dual vinyl bulb seal very similar to a refrigerator seal is usually located at the top and bottom channel of the walls and windows of the temo sunrooms. This unique feature provides the luxury of making the sunrooms weather-tight and insect-resistant between walls and foundations of the sunroom. A great amount of structural integrity is promised to the sunrooms through the interlocking meeting rail and lift screens structured into the windows. These E-Z lift self-healing, puncture-resistant lift screens are removable from interior for easy window cleaning. The doors of the temo sunrooms come exclusively studded with attractive brass or French handles that add both beauty and durability to the doors. While the deadbolt lock systems provides extra security against intrusions, the welded corners and dual door sweep in the doors promise reinforced commercial strength that provide a extra dimensions of security against weather, insects and unwanted manly intrusions.

Last of all are secrets in the roof systems of the Temo sunrooms. While the standing roof seams provide most effective protection against weather and seasonal expansions, the interlocking tongue-and-groove construction system provides structural integrity, longetivity and overall roof system. The vinyl roof cleat is designed to conceal the interior seam and provide additional seam integrity against harsh weather. The leaf guard protection blocks debris from accumulating and aids in maintenance-free gutter performance of the temo sunrooms.

Types Of Temo Sunrooms

Apart from these exclusive features temo sunrooms also promise the three outstanding Ps- performance, perfection and protection. Each of the temo sunrooms are built of superior materials that come with lifetime warranty. The temo sunrooms come in several styles like the studio rooms, solarium model style. California style and cathedral designs. The studio rooms are one of the popular designs that can adapt to almost any style home or architecture. While the studio style comes with maximum ceiling height it is ideally suited for skylights. The solariums-style temo sunrooms transfer the outdoors to indoors with their state-of-the art designs. They allow maximum exposure to the ecstatic beauty of moon, sun and stars while providing you protection from their harmful aura. The cathedral style temo sunrooms with their traditional design of gables, split-gables and step-down roof designs must be a matter of your choice.

A great advantage of a temo sunroom is that it is customized to fit your home creating a home addition of your dreams. The most popular sizes of temo sunrooms that are available are 10′x8′, 10′x12′, 10′x14”, 12′x8′, 12′x12, 12×15, 12×20 and 16×20. As per the size of the temo sunrooms, you can increase its incredible flexibility by using it as a spa, entertainment centers, exercise and working centers. The temo sunrooms have designs that help to regulate the temperature of the interior of the sunrooms in all seasons.

Get temo sunrooms in your home to unwind, relax and spend time with your family and friends.

A.Caxton
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/features-of-temo-sunrooms-95350.html