Wall-fountains Bring Tranquility To A Small Garden

Wall-fountains run the gamut from classical Greekfountain no higher above the catch basin than the
figures and wall mounted gargoyles to sleek moderndiameter of the catch basin.
art forms and spouting frogs and fish. A wall fountainWall-Fountains Are Not Difficult to Install
usually spills water through--such as a mask or aTaking up no floor room, wall fountains are ideal for
decorative plaque--into a basin which hides a smallgardens or seating areas that are tight on space. A
pump. The statuary can be terra cotta, plastic,submersed pump that recirculates water from the
fiberglass, cast concrete (often designed to mimicbasin to a delivery pipe up to the spout powers most
terra-cotta or stone), or metal. Stone andwall-fountains. Designs are nearly infinite, but most
cast-concrete wall fountains require a wall stronghave a jet of water spilling into a trough or basin. The
enough to support their weight, as well as sturdy,plumbing on some wall fountains can be rather
well-secured mounting hardware.complicated, often requiring pipes behind the wall. In
Hiding the Return Pipe and Cord on a Wall-Fountainother cases, the water lines run up the wall surface
Wall-fountains look best if the return pipe doesn't show.and must be disguised with vines or other plants.
Thus, the best place for these fountains is aHowever, simple-to-install, preformed kits are now
freestanding wall that allows you to run the plumbingavailable with only a cord running from them. Because
behind it. However, this is rarely practical for manythe ease and cost of installation varies widely, consider
situations. Small features work best, such as on athe installation when buying a wall fountain.
townhouse patio. Alternatives include hiding the tubingWall fountains attach in several ways. Stone fountains
with vines or chiseling a vertical niche down the wall toattach with mortar and are supported with special
run the tubing and then mortaring over it. A moreT-blocks, decorative braces that act as brackets.
satisfactory option is to build out the wall using similarLighter weight fountain kits come with mounting
material-a new line of bricks, for instance, or anhardware.
enclosure covered with clapboards to match yourWall fountains are commonly sold as separate units.
home's siding. Mount the wall-fountain on the newThey are designed to be installed with a pump. They
surface, and run the pipe behind it. For more wallwill almost always come with complete instructions. As
fountain ideas visitwith any moving water feature, it is a good idea to be
If the wall-fountain doesn't come with its own basin,able to turn the wall fountain on and off from an indoor
homemade options range from building an elaborateswitch. Wall fountains are well suited for the small
brick or concrete reservoir to recycling a half-barrel orgarden. They require a little more work to install, but
an old sink or trough. Don't make the catch basin tooinstallation is still straightforward if you have a wall with
small or rapid evaporation will necessitate frequentaccess to the back.
topping off. To keep splashing to a minimum, mount the