Backyard Creations

Having a whole summer (save for the week we went to San Diego) here at home has been absolutely marvelous.  I haven't spent this much time here during a summer in over 10 years.  While I wouldn't want to do this every year, this was the right year to do it largely because it gave Jed time to really heal his neck and me to get some things done around here that I've been putting off for a while.


One of them was a very pleasant chore -- doing something with a water feature in the backyard.  Here's what I had for about 6 years:

It provided enough sound to make me happy, but the faux stone was very tired-looking and needed to be retired.  I tried selling it on Craigslist but got no takers.  So on garbage day I watched as it was unceremoniously tossed into the dump truck.


In my ideal world I'd have liked to put a small waterfall in, with a pondless pool.  But the area I had to work with was just too small to do it without compromising water and lighting stuff.  So I opted for a fountain of sorts.


I had gardner Felipe dig a hole for a big horse bucket (recommended by some pond making website -- much cheaper).  Over the bucket I placed a metal grate ...

Then it was time to level it & put the faux stone pillar in the right place so that as it did its "fountain thing" the bucket would catch the water.  The pillar's made from concrete and stained to look like stone.  Pretty good, if you ask me!

Then it was time to return the plants to their former spot and cover the grate with river rock.  

I like it.  It provides the happy sound of running water and is virtually worry-free.  Just have to add some water every now and then.  I still need to add some more plants around the back side, but for right now it's okay.  My next door neighbor says that she can hear it from her bedroom at night and thoroughly enjoys it.  It's a good thing ...  :)


School begins in just over a week.  My summer of creativity is almost over.  I'm working hard to not be sad about it, but when that alarm goes off at 6:00 in a few short days it's going to be hard.  But I've got one "last hurrah" up my sleeve, and Jed's going to like it.  It'll push both of our "reset" buttons.  :)