A pond fountain will keep water moving in your pond. Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, algae blooms, and odor. Mosquitoes like a still, water surface to lay their eggs, and if you have moving pond water, it will decrease this pesky insect’s habitation in your pond. Likewise, algae prefers slow or still water to accumulate on the water’s surface. Movement will also encourage the deterioration of debris more quickly, so you don’t have that rotten odor.

The movement will also keep the oxygen levels in your pond, which is valuable for plant and fish life. Especially if you’re using plants to re-oxygenate your water, the pond pump will help circulate that. It will also provide a steady flow of nutrients to your aquatic plants.

During the winter and especially if you live in areas with colder weather and frequent snow, you will need to take the pump out of the pond and keep it inside the house until spring. The frozen water can permanently damage the pond fountain pump, so this winter protection is essential.

If you follow these basic simple and easy to apply maintenance tips you will be able to longer enjoy the beauty and the benefits the pond fountain brings.  Serenity Health & Home Décor carries a full selection of pumps and maintenance supplies for fountains and ponds.

 Step One: Dump Water and Dry the Fountain

Make sure the fountain pump is off and dump all of the fountain’s water before it has a chance to freeze. Use cloths to get rid of as much moisture as possible. Excess moisture during storage may damage the fountain or grow into mold.

 Step Two: Take Apart the Fountain

Most tiered fountains have a spin and lock system, so you can take apart each level individually. Drain the water, give it time to dry, and then take each piece indoors. Perhaps, store the pump separately so it doesn’t get crushed, and be sure to store any power cords or solar panels in a dry, temperature controlled environment.

Step Three: Clean Your Water Fountain Pump

Remove your fountain’s pump and give if a thorough cleaning according to its directions. Watch out for small debris. If indicated by the pump model, store it in a container of warm water in an area that will never frost or freeze, even a little. This will prevent dried out gaskets.

 Step Four: Fill and Cover Your Fountain

Is your fountain to big to bring inside? After emptying your fountain and drying it, cover your fountain with a tarp and fill the basin with rags to absorb and moisture from condensation, during the winter. There are also Fountain covers you can get to prevent snow and rain from getting into your fountain from the outside.

Step Five: Get an Indoor Fountain!

Fountains aren’t just for the outdoors. You can enjoy a wall or tabletop fountain for your indoor space as well. And with these, you can enjoy them all season long!

4. Creeping Juniper Keeps Robbers Away

Image Via Flickr by Jason Sturner 72

The Creeping Juniper’s needle-like leaves prove a powerful deterrent for thieves. It isn’t very tall, but it spans about eight feet. Many home owners plant several creeping junipers close together to create a kind of spiky carpet.

It’s worth noting though that the leaves become softer and scalier as the plant ages, so you should replace old shrubs to maintain your natural security system.

3. Voodoo Rose, Pretty But Thorny

Most rose bushes have damaging thorns, but few pack the punch of the Voodoo Rose. Gardening expert Fred Hoffman claims these thorns are more menacing than barbed wire. That makes it one of the best do it yourself alarms. If a thief lands in these spikes, your whole neighborhood will know about it! It grows up to 6 feet tall, and has striking orange blooms.

2. Pyracantha Creates a Prickly Barrier

Image Via Flickr by Donald Lee Pardue

The spiky thorns and dense build of the pyracantha make it a powerful home security system. No wonder, as it’s a member of the rose family. While its cousins’ thorns can be delicate, the pyracantha’s are large and razor-sharp.

The large 10-foot version makes a great fence, while the smaller Red Elf variety works well under windows. Both are beautiful, with bright red berries that attract local birdlife. As the pyracantha’s a fast-growing plant, it won’t take long to establish your botanical security system.

1. Bougainvillea Climbs to Protect Your Home

Image Via Flickr by Tyler Nienhouse

Its brightly colored flowers are very striking, but don’t get too close to the bougainvillea. This pretty vine’s thorns can cause some serious damage. Those spikes will only become more dangerous with regular feeding and watering. Thieves will think twice about scaling your fence or trellises with this climber protecting it.

The bougainvillea grows up to 35 feet long, so one plant will go a long way. Miniature varieties, including Mrs Louis Wathern and Mrs Butt, also work well underneath windows.

Where to Plant These Natural Security System

First floor windows are targeted in 23 percent of break-ins, making them among the most common entry points for home invaders. You can minimize the risks by placing imposing plants beneath your windows. These shrubs will also make it more difficult for thieves to use your windows as escape routes.  You can further reinforce your windows by training climbing varieties with a trellis.

Many of us never use our back doors, yet they account for 22 percent of break-ins. Placing the same plants around this entry point can fortify it without disrupting your household.

So forget barbed wire and high fences; prickly shrubs and bushes make far more attractive security systems.

Today, dogs are living much longer with amazing advancements in veterinary medicine. But, as your pet grows older, they will experience joint discomfort, muscle pain, and stiffness. It may affect how they sleep or operate day to day. You will need to do a little research and talk to your vet about how to give your dog the best of care in their senior years, easing their discomfort.

Looking Ahead

Strong dogs that are healthy will more than likely live to be much older. Just as exercise helps prevent osteoporosis, obesity puts unnecessary stress and pain on the joints. Keeping your pet in shape and giving them regular exercise will save them a lot of pain in the later years.

Comfort Measures

Owners might furnish a bed for large dogs to make their aging companion more comfortable. There are orthopedic dog beds that relieve pressure and support your dog while at rest. These often reduce the pain of arthritic joints and other ailments.

Reducing the caloric intake of your pet will reduce weight gain. Added weight in aging years can add to the discomfort of your dog. Older canines do not get the exercise that is needed to maintain muscle mass and reduce fat.

Try taking your aging pet on short walks to help with mobility. If your dog simply lies around, he or she will suffer more problems. Schedule walks when the weather is good and never too hot or too cold. This is much too strenuous on your older dog. Remember, with age your dog’s temperament may change as well if they are experiencing daily pain. If it is too extreme, you may need to talk to your vet for pain relief medications.

Restaurants and businesses have spent a lot of money to see how colors affect people’s appetites and their purchasing choices. Though studies debate to what extent a color can affect you, you can use the basic principles to provide the type of mood and energy you want to each room of your house. Here is the breakdown of colors for you:

Red

With red roses, red lipstick, and red Valentine’s day cards, it’s not surprising that red is a color which promotes excitement and passion. In an article by Sally Augustin called, “The Color Red!” featured on Psychology Today, Augustin references a study done by Andrew Elliot which evaluates the color’s role in romantic situations. He and his co-workers found that when shown pictures of the opposite gender, male and female participants preferred candidates wearing red or standing in front of a red background.

Contrarily, Augustin points out that Elliot also found in his studies that when study participants experienced red while taking an IQ test, they performed less well than ones who had not. So in a way, the color red can also be distracting. So, you don’t want to use red in your study room or office.

Blue

In the Business Insider’s article, “Branding and the Psychology of Color,” it is said that blue represents, “trust, integrity, and communication.” It is a relaxing color, associated with the calming waves of the ocean or a lake. However, the article points out, the wrong color tone can communicate coldness or an unapproachable character. Some top brands which use blue in their logo include Ford, American Express, and IBM. But if you will notice, each of these businesses uses a lighter blue color scheme.

Blue would work well in a study or office or place which needs a more relaxing tone.

Yellow

According to the Huffington Post’s article, “The Psychology of Color in Logo Design,” by Brian Honigman, Honigman assets that yellow is an energizing color full of warmth and optimism. Perhaps this is because we associate yellow with the sun, the main source of energy and life for our planet. Sprint, McDonald’s, and Best Buy are prominent yellow logos.

So, if you have a corner room which is generally cooler during the winter, try some yellow accent walls and see if the room feels warmer to you. Or add creativity and energy to your children’s room with yellow furniture or pictures.

Green

An article featured on the American Psychological Association website called, “Green is Good for You,” asserts that green is a restorative color. Written by Rebecca Clay, Clay explains the findings of several studies which observe the healing effect nature has on our mental state and how the primary color of nature, green, can also bring us that restorative energy to the workplace.

Naturally, having lots of houseplants and flowers in the house will do a lot to bring that natural energy into your home, but deep green color accents of furniture will also give you that peace.

Purple

A color of joy, creativity, and luxury, BBC Home Design cautions the use of this color. In the article, “The Psychology of Colour,” BBC says that one of the pitfalls with decorating with purple is that it can get overwhelming very fast. Mild and intentional purple accents to a room will give it the richness you desire without being overpowering.

Orange

According to the Business Insider’s article, “Branding and the Psychology of Color,” Orange is a playful, socially interactive and fun color. Not surprisingly, the network Nickelodeon predominately uses this color. It’s also the color hunters wear during deer season. You can draw your own conclusions about that.

So there you have it, the psychology of color in a nutshell. Hopefully, this outline will help you decorate and color your rooms in the most effective and engaging manner possible. Go! Decorate!

Images Courtesy of:

hgtv.comtheroseman.com
altenergystocks.com
linkusblesstheweather.blogspot.com
mashable.com
myspace.com
realfood.com

Small outdoor fountains are very simple to clean.  If you have a fountain you can lift, simply dump the old water, take a scotch brite pad or mild abrasive sponge and scrub off the algae and as much of the hard water stains as  you can.  (White scale or lime build up can be tough to remove once you have it).  You will also want to be sure to clean the pump.  This is what makes the water fountain and without it, you can’t enjoy your fountain.  Remove the pump from the fountain and take off the cover.  Use a small brush, even a toothbrush, and scrub out the small spaces.  You will probably notice a lot of algae and debris in the small spaces as your pump is stopping this debris from getting inside your water fountain.

Once you have your fountain clean add fresh water and consider using a fountain care product such as Care Free Enzymes or Fountain Fresh to keep your water clear and clean.  You may also want to use the No More White Scale for any fountain you have as it will keep hard water stains off your fountain.

Large fountains or stone fountains may not be quite so simple and can be somewhat of a daunting task if it is not kept up.  The best way is to do it piece by piece.  If it isn’t feasible to take the fountain apart simply scoop out as much water as you can, use a mild abrasive sponge and scrub the surface areas.  Remove the pump and clean it just like any other fountain pump.  Take it apart and clean thoroughly.  You can use the Fountain Fresh which is safe for all animals and wildlife or use an algae preventer such as Fountain Block or Algae Control.

Just a little care of your garden and outdoor fountains can go a long way.  You can also find many fountain care tips at our Tips and Advice Center at Serenityhealth.com.

1. Water Bell Fountain - This fountain features a beautiful flame colored copper bowl and floating bells that float around the bowl and chime, bringing soft water sounds and soothing chime sounds.  This tabletop fountain has been a best seller for years.
2. Mayan Falls Tabletop Fountain – Another fountain that features the beautiful copper basin along with cascading slate pieces to bring soothing water sounds and natural beauty as copper and slate come together!
3. Mini Bowl Ceramic Fountain – This hand crafted ceramic fountain is a true gem!  Crafted by a skilled artisan, the ceramic and coloring is beautiful making this the perfect feng shui element for any home or office.  The Earth and River Stone glaze has been most popular and are in stock and ready to ship!
4. Mini Moonshadow Tabletop Fountain – Another customer favorite and this year the mini moonshadow fountain offers a light to bring more soothing tranquility!  The hanging slate piece with water cascading down makes this fountain a pleasure to look at makes for wonderful waterfall sounds.  Gift
5. Four-Tiered Step Tabletop Fountain – This fountain features natural colors and a soft falling water sound and the size of the water fountain makes is perfect for any small table or desk.  A unique design for anyone on your list.

The bowl is made from glass with swirling green glaze on it. The bowl is 3” deep, which is perfect for all kinds of birds, but it is a gradient depth, to accommodate small and large birds. The glass bowl rests upon an artistically shaped metal stand made out of steel.

But, you can also just use the glass bowl itself for a tabletop or ground birdbath for the birds, or bring it inside for the winter and use it as a unique table centerpiece. Fill it with pine cones or candles, and it will make an artistic addition to your dining room table!

The green color scheme makes it complimentary to the garden, but the bright, fresh hues make this birdbath bowl stand out.  The rim of the bowl is wavy and thin, giving the birds a convenient place to perch and dry off after their bath. A creative yet practical birdbath you’ll love to own!

You will find sizes ranging from 6″ up to 15″ and various types of natural stones. You can have a special word or phrase engraved, or there are several stock images you can choose from as well. It’s a great way to immortalize a memory for a wedding, anniversary, or birthday.

Another unique idea is to incorporate it into a proposal. How special would it be to go for a walk or picnic, and your girlfriend stumbles upon a rock which says, “Will you marry me?” How unexpected and creative that would be! And, you can keep that engraved stone forever as a memorial to your love.

Or use them as table décor or party favors at your reception dinner! Engrave pocket stones with inspirational words like “faithful” or “trust” or “hope.” Or you can fill glass candle holders with these little pocket stones to decorate.

Engraved stones can also serve as pet memorials. Remember a loyal pet by engraving a stone in their honor. Keep it in the garden or in your home as a reminder of the years of loyalty and love your pet gave to your family.

All in all, engraved stones make for very unusual, but special, gifts. Check out all the options Serenity Health has to offer.

Solar Lights and Garden Stakes

Garden stakes are designed with significant height, so they shouldn’t be buried by the snow. Often constructed from resin or metal, they’re very durable and can withstand winter temperatures. What’s nice about garden stakes with solar lighting is that it will add flair to your yard, even at night. Use them as pathway lighting to help you make your way across the icy sidewalks or simply as decorative lighting. It will add color in your otherwise tundra outdoors.

Brighten Your Birdbath

I found this awesome idea on the Better Homes and Gardens website. Unless you have a heater to keep your birdbath water melted, odds are you drained the water for winter. Better Homes filled the birdbath with cranberries, pepperberries, polished stones and orange slices to give a bright and citrus look to the back patio. These summer colors “pop” against the snow.

A Jarring Winter Accent

I found this on Flickr, posted by Raehein. A wonderful way to decorate ledges, steps, or fence posts, you just take some mason jars and fill them with colorful Christmas tree ornaments! You can find them pretty inexpensively at a discount or dollar store, or just wait after Christmas for the clearances! You can also use this same idea with other things around the house–buttons, marbles, or beads. The ornament idea keeps with the season though!

Ice Balloons

This especially is a fun thing to do with the kids. I found this on Queen Vanna Creations, and it will certainly give your snowbanks a splash of color! This project is messy though, so make sure you wear clothes which you don’t mind getting dirty. Take a balloon and squirt a few drops of food coloring into it. Then, fill the balloon like you would if you’re making water balloons, making sure that you fill it slowly because if it bursts, it will be quite a mess! Tie off the balloon when you’ve filled it to the desired size. Then, in tubs or baskets, set the balloons outside to freeze. This might take several hours, depending on the temperature outside and the size of your balloons. When you’re sure they’re frozen, cut off the balloon and set these colorful ice orbs along your sidewalk or in your yard. Super fun to do!

Frozen Ice Lantern

I found this creative idea on designsponge.com. This is a unique way to light up your walk way for any special occasion. Take two buckets, one small than the other. Fill the larger bucket half way full with water, and then place the smaller bucket in the middle. Weigh the smaller bucket down with some heavy rocks, and use tape to keep the bucket centered within the larger bucket. Then, add more water if you desire a higher lantern. Arrange greenery like pine needles or holly in the water, then place the whole thing outside to freeze. Once frozen, remove the smaller bucket and then take the ice lantern out of the bigger bucket. Place pillar candles at the bottom, and you have some lovely ice lanterns for outside!