Nowadays we take a tip from the Persians and other Far Eastern peoples who know that, however tiny may be the trickle of water from a fountain running into a small pool, it will give forth a sound which is cooling to our mental climate and conducive, therefore, to physical coolness in the oppressive heat of summer.

No longer is it necessary to have a constant water supply running into the pool and draining out in a city that can make one's water bills mount up and in the country it can wear out the electric pump of a fountain. Instead we now use small re-circulating pumps, which take the water which drains from the pool and force it back up through the fountain jet or other inlet. Only occasionally is it necessary to replenish the water lost through evaporation. Once in a while, of course, all pools or water fountains must be drained, scrubbed out, and refilled, but the cost of this is minor. Recirculators aerate the water constantly as it falls into the pool so that it is kept from stagnating, and many of them have a strainer attachment which prevents debris from fouling the line.

We have learned, too, that pools need not be deep. Even when we want to grow water lilies and other aquatic plants in them, we need only make plant pockets deep enough to contain the roots of the plants at the proper depth and wide enough to hold sufficient soil for their growth. Pockets can be made which are just large enough to hold the tubs or boxes in which the lily roots are planted. These can be placed alongside the main pool of the fountain with a connecting canal, or they can be planted in the center of the pool in a pocket there. The rest of the pool can be quite shallow. Regardless of your application, outdoor water fountains, pools, and garden ponds can add the element of water to your garden.