Home & Garden

Babbling isn't always a bad thing.

In people, sure — nervous boys babble, doddering old English teachers babble about everything from Keats to Kafka and TV talking heads babble like their prime time lives depend on it — all creating more noise and distraction for a world already drowning in it.

And yet not all babbling is irritating. Some can be soothing, tranquil and lucid. The best babbling is found in nature. Lakes, rivers, streams and especially brooks have all been known to babble, but only when heard by a sensitive, attentive ear.

But what Mother Nature doesn't provide, retailers, architects and wholesale manufacturers are more than willing to recreate.

Outdoor water fountains — those built for appreciating, not drinking — can provide a calming backyard reprieve from even the most stressful of lives. And all that's generally required is a fair amount of space, a bucket of water to get the whole thing moving and an extension cord to power the motor.

Well … perhaps there are a few other considerations.

"Everyone needs at least one fountain," says Mark Griarson, shopping for motorized gear for his koi pond at the Anniston Lowe's. "You're only limited by your imagination and your budget."

Griarson, who has three fountains scattered across his front and back yards, including one "monster" that the previous owners had running in order to create a peaceful setting to entice potential buyers, says no home is complete without one.

"I love all mine," he says, grinning. "There's nothing that beats the sound of gently flowing water. It'll make you never want to go back inside."

And there's a fountain for every taste and mechanical ability. From fountains shaped like rocks to those that bubble water over a granite-like obelisk. Some hang on the wall and others appear as if snatched off the streets of Rome and plopped down in a well-lit showroom.

Fountains can be divided into two categories. There are those dominated by the architecture or the statue inside the structure. These are attractive even when the water isn't running. And there are fountains where water itself is the main focus.

It's all a matter of beauty being in the eye of the beholder. But there is a difference in water features — fountains for fountains sake — and water gardens. And it basically boils down to size, explains Thomas Barthel, former managing editor of Water Garden News, writing for Garden-Fountains.com.

"Simple fountains and water features typically stand alone in the garden or home setting, making them portable," he writes. They are offered as self-contained units that circulate the same water again and again. Fountains can also be integrated into a larger body of water, such as a water garden, where they circulate a larger quantity of water. "

These type fountains provide many useful features, particularly for the novice who doesn't have time to build a large water garden. They generally arrive fully assembled for easy installation, with a circulating pump and flexible tubing. The water can be easily changed to keep it clean and fresh. And with constant flow of water, there's no worry about mosquitoes.

"People who simply want to kick back, flip a switch and enjoy the sound of trickling water after a long day at the office are attracted to these easy do-it-yourself projects," Barthel writes.

It was that kind of atmosphere that lured David Wingard, co-owner of Lighting Showroom in Anniston, into adding several fountains to the already existing illuminated ambiance of his showroom.

"It's all about the sound," he says, standing next to a large tower-in-basin model that's so large a few passing customers confused it with a wishing well and tossed pennies inside. "There's a complete shift in energy when they're running."

Lighting Showroom currently plays host to several fountains of various sizes and styles, all of which are made by the Arizona-based Echo Sphere company and range in price from $600 to $1,500.

As for maintenance, Wingard says that the fountains, which can be used either indoors or outdoors, are fairly easy. They need to be refilled with water about twice a week.

He also suggests adding either a teaspoon of bleach or an algaecide to the flow every other week to keep the water clean. And once or twice a year, the whole fountain needs to be taken apart and cleaned thoroughly.

"Other than that, there's not much work at all," he says.

Even so, most personal fountains come with self-contained motors and require only a power source. Some are even solar powered. The only downside is that on extremely cloudy and rainy days solar panels don't always collect and hold enough energy to power the pump at full throttle. Otherwise, it's just a matter of plugging it in and enjoying the soothing sounds.

Wingard's already come to appreciate the benefits.

"It's been amazing," he says. "It's a more relaxing, tranquil place to be. For someone with a lot of stress in their life, there's nothing better."