Most of us have, at one time or another, been advised to go with the flow. As is the case with cross that bridge when you come to it, the grass is always greener on the other side, or any of hundreds of other platitudes, we all know what it means, even if we don’t know where it originated.
However, almost anyone who gives even a passing thought to going with the flow will think of water first, because we all have water on the brain. Uh, that is to say, humans have been attracted to – and fascinated by – water since they first appeared on this planet. Beyond being vital for survival, it’s an irresistible force, full of mystery, magic, and magnetism.
People have always gone to great lengths to reach water, and to develop ways in which to bring water great lengths to them. Besides using it for drinking, bathing, and washing things, they craved the look, sound, sight, and feel of it so much that they wanted to dive right in and revel in it. Eventually, they even began creating magnificent water features in their gardens.
Although it’s unclear exactly when that started, paintings of spectacular water gardens have been found in the tombs of ancient Egyptian kings. These images, which date back over 3,500 years, illustrate elaborately structured ponds that included fish and lush aquatic plants, such as water lilies and giant papyrus, which the Egyptians used for making paper. Ornate garden bridges have also been depicted across the water and in other places on the grounds.
Ancient China and Japan also had intricately structured water gardens, in which foot bridges were used to achieve the harmonious balance of water, stone, and vegetation. Over a thousand years ago, the Romans built complex aqueducts that carried water for miles, to supply bathhouses and build extravagant water gardens with fountains, spouts, pools, reflecting ponds, streams, and waterfalls. Bridges in these gardens also tied all of the elements together and provided vantage points from which to view their breath-taking splendor.
Essential to formal and informal schemes, bridges also heighten the sense of excitement and anticipation in gardens that have water features hidden in alcoves. In fact, the allure of water is so powerful that even the expectation of it makes it impossible for people to resist crossing those bridges when they come to them. Perhaps this is proof that it’s in our nature to go with the flow.
Water gardens are as popular as ever, if not even more so, as our high-stress society has us turning to that life-restoring flow for comfort. Even in waterless gardens, bridges are used to connect distinctive landscape features, such as flower beds or “pools” of decorative stones. Sometimes, people even go over them just to see if the grass really is greener on the other side.
GazeboCreations.com has a huge selection of treated pine, cedar, and vinyl bridges, in single and double rail, spindle rail, picket, and half-picket rail styles. Available in a wide range of sizes, there’s a garden or pedestrian bridge to fit almost any stream, ravine, or walkway.
To see the entire collection of bridges, outdoor buildings, and patio furniture, go to GazeboCreations.com. To contact one of their customer service professionals or design consultants, call 1-888-293-2339, or e-mail cs@gazebocreations.com.