PARADiSE iN

A Pot

The sound of trickling water slowly starts the process of melting the stress of the day away. The harsh sounds of traffic fade. your mood is elevated and mind renewed. fountains are indeed a pleasant sight to behold, transforming any garden into a functional and spiritual sanctuary. And there are no limits to the designs and themes offered on the market today. from stunning colored glazed finishes to rock waterfalls to pebbled springs. Just choose the one that speaks for you and your style, add water and relax.—RB

For a wide selection of ceramic pottery fountains, check out Terra Sol Garden Center 5320 Overpass Rd. 805-964-7811. Most fountains require a small amount of setup and assembly and Garden Center staff are happy to assist you. Prices range $50 to $500 depending on features.

iT’S ALL iN ThE FLOw

During the renovation of his home, architect Bill Childers found it necessary to reconstruct a large retaining wall that cut across the back of his home. To break up the unsightly visual impact of the wall, Childers designed a simple, but very effective fountain to ease the eyes. Constructed by Craig Kircher of Tri-Valley Pool and Spa, the fountain walls are covered with a hand trowel Venetian type plaster finish and glass tile. The water basin is also lined completely in glass tile and contains two flush mounted spa lights in the floor of the fountain. The water feature completes both sound and visual effects with a 12-foot wide Jandy Sheer decent waterfall fed by a remotely controlled pool pump. Both waterfall and lights are connected to a programmable control system and can by operated from inside the home. Jandy is a leader in self-contained water features and can be custom cut on site by a certified contractor to match most any design. —Raymond Bloom

For more information on Jandy Sheer Decent water features and fountain construction call Tri-Valley Pool and Spa at 805-432-4731 or log on to www.trivalleypools.com

ThE NOBLE AgAVE

Native to mexico, Agave has provided well for its peoples; being a source for everything from food and drink to clothing and footwear, rope, building materials, musical instruments, sweetener, medicines and, of course, Tequila.

The varieties we typically use in our gardens are Agave Americana and Agave attenuata. Categorized as a succulent, Agave has a life span of about 7 to 28 years (depending on the species) at which point it flowers and then dies, but not before creating an abundance of progeny. Since it tolerates any soil type, temperatures from 15-115 degrees with little or no water, Agave is a great choice for California gardens.

The dramatic Americana makes a statement that is hard to ignore, though you may want to appreciate it from a far, due to its intimidating spines. Attenuata is the best choice for a “close-up” garden, due to its smaller size and lack of thorny appendages. —LC