This year I can emphatically state that the most practical piece of garden art I ever purchased is a decorative downspout. A chain of copper cups carries rain water from the gutter above my backyard patio into the ground drains beneath the concrete. I couldn't be more pleased with its performance — especially this year with the above- normal precipitation we've experienced.

Depending upon where you live, local rainfall totals for the season are already 20 inches or more. And winter is far from over. Check this link to seasonal totals for the Browns Valley area of Vacaville: www.vacavilleweather.com   

Also known as a “rain chain,” the decorative downspout I chose was the largest cup size available. I placed the bottom cup inside a ceramic pot with a hole in the bottom, then lined the pot with small rocks to center and secure the chain. The pot sits atop a flat drain cover. See photos below.

Japanese in origin, also known as “kusari doi,” these “chain gutters” are not new. They have collected water from rooftops and transported it into cisterns for centuries. Today rain chains are available in a variety of artistic shapes from square to embossed, flared or fluted cups to double loops.

For me, this decorative downspout is worth every cent. It's a welcome addition to my garden. The rushing gushing waterfall flow from a cloud burst is as delightful as the soft sound of individual drops trickling through the cups during a gentle shower.