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Lots of people are making fountains part of their outdoor d'cor. And why not? Fountains add a touch of class and when chosen carefully, really compliment your landscaping. The sound of the running water alone adds an extra dimension to your garden. Even if you don't have a water pond in your backyard, you can still enjoy the beauty and tranquility of a fountain.

The most basic fountain that you can use without a pond is what I call the birdbath style. It looks just like a birdbath, but has a little fountain built into the center. The unit is completely self contained, and easy to set up. If you have a birdbath in your yard now, have a look at it. You might be able to add a small fountain to it. The bowl will act as the fountain's reservoir. But be forewarned, the birds may not like visiting your birdbath anymore.

If you want to go all out, you'll find bunches of larger freestanding fountains. If you're looking for something that can be the focal point of your garden, these are the fountains to look at. They come in a couple of different flavors. Some are multi tired. You see these in a lot of city parks. Basically, they are a series of birdbath fountains placed on top of each other. The top bowl has a larger fountain pumping water into the air. The water collects in the top bowl until it spills onto the next. It does this through two or tree bowls until collecting in the reservoir. These are really nice fountains, but tend to be pretty big.

The waterfall is another type of large fountain for your backyard. Like the name implies, these fountains simulate a waterfall. Instead of shooting water into the air, water is allowed to gently fill the top "pond" until it spills over. On some the water is allowed to gently glide down a slope. On others it spills over like Niagara Falls. You can find these with multiple stages or a single stage.

If you want something larger than a birdbath fountain, but don't want it to dominate your garden, a wall fountain may be for you. Have you seen the fountains in old European cities? The ones mounted on the walls. It's usually a lion or angel with water flowing from its mouth into a basin. That's a wall fountain. They can be placed against your home's exterior wall or if you get creative and can secure it, against a trellis. These also come with their own little reservoir.

There you have it. Fountains for your yard, even if you don't have a pond. Of course, if you have a pond, you'll have lots of other choices. But for those of us who don't want to dig a pond or don't have a large enough backyard, these free standing fountains are a great alternative.

Copyright 2006 Marge Snow