New disappearing fountain is for the birds (and me)
Among the many other garden projects I’ve been working on lately, I hired out one addition I’ve long wanted: a disappearing fountain to add the movement and music of water to my garden.
I chose a simple blue pot with an enclosed “saucer” at top rather than an open vessel of water, mainly because I sited it under a live oak and a crepe myrtle, which drop a lot of debris throughout the year. I wanted my water feature to be as low-maintenance as possible, and this design nearly eliminates the possibility of the pump getting clogged.
I bought it at Hill Country Water Gardens in Cedar Park, my favorite pond/fountain/water-plant nursery (click for my virtual visit to HCWG), which recently has become a good general nursery as well, with a variety of native, adapted, xeric, and tropical terrestrial plants in addition to a large selection of water lilies and other pond plants. HCWG stocks a tremendous number and variety of glazed pots, drilled stones, and contemporary disappearing fountains. The only kind of fountain missing from its inventory (I’ve hunted around for one) is the traditional or fiberglass millstone, which they tell me is not a big seller for them.
Installing a disappearing fountain can be a DIY project, and plenty of how-to information can be found online or in classes at HCWG. But with everything else I had going on, I wanted someone else to do it for me. So I happily ponied up an installation fee when I bought my pot, and three nice young men showed up a week later to dig the 2×2 hole for the water reservoir, place the pump inside and cover it with a grate, set up and level the fountain atop the grate, and spread river rock over the reservoir to hide it.
Disappearing fountains are so-called because the water flows up and over the vessel and then seems to disappear into the ground. It actually collects in a plastic reservoir under the fountain, where a pump recirculates it back up. The only maintenance is to check the water level in the reservoir once a week and top it off as needed, and to clean out the reservoir with a shop vac once a year. This kind of pot does not hold water (only a copper tube runs up through the middle), so it’s in no danger of freezing and cracking in the winter. They told me the pump runs on only 3 amps, so it doesn’t use a lot of energy and can be left on all the time unless we’re going out of town.
I sited the fountain to be visible from the kitchen and living room windows, as well as from the deck and the pool seating, so we have a view of it from many different places, indoors and out. My hope is that the shallow saucer and gently bubbling water will attract birds as well. I love hearing the burbling water through the open windows during these mild spring days.
All material © 2006-2011 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
That’s wonderful — love the line of sight with the other blue pots and the bottle tree. You’ve got such a good eye. Can’t wait to see it in person.
What another great addition to your already beautiful gardens and yard. Soon you will be giving tours!
Wow, this is a beauty. I didn’t know you could put a saucer in the top. It will be a bird and bee’s best friend this summer.
The saucer (a depression in the top, really) is built in, Lisa. It’s not an open pot at all. I actually think the open-water pots are prettier, but they just wouldn’t work in my situation because of the leaf and blossom litter from overhead trees. —Pam
Beautiful, Pam… perfect shape and perfect setting for your disappearing fountain, and I just knew it would be your signature blue pottery!
Our stone disappearing fountain came from Hill Country Water Gardens, too and I love it, but as the temperatures rise, you might want to check the water level more frequently to make sure you don’t run dry and burn out the pump.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Thanks for the heads-up on fill-up frequency, Annie. Mine is in a good deal of shade, but I will keep a closer eye on it. —Pam
Simple and beautiful. Just perfect for your garden!
I love it! And the birds and bees will too!
Gorgeous color!
Gorgeous Pam! What a fantastic addition to your garden.
Great Look! Love the placement of the fountain in the raised area of the yard to really make it a gorgeous focal point! And of course your tie in with the rest of your pottery gives a wonderful flow and drama to your yard! I love how the sound of water takes all other noises to the background (except the new noises you should expect from your happy bird visitors!)…enjoy!
Very nice. I suspect you’ll have to add water a few times per week to compensate for critters drinking and evaporation. I have to top my two-level exposed fountain with a gallon a day when I have it turned on. But the water-music is so worth it. Enjoy!
Wow, a gallon a day? A multi-level fountain would create more splash and more opportunity for evaporation, I suppose, but I will certainly keep a close eye on mine as well. —Pam
Perfect timing and great post, Pam! I’ve been wanting one of these for awhile, but wasn’t sure about the low maintenance aspect – I have oak trees too. I love the idea of a closed pot system. Have you noticed yet how much “splash” waste you have with the size of this reservoir? I was thinking it might be a tad small? I’ve installed similar fountains in some temporary show gardens, and have had a miserable time keeping the water level up. It’s amazing how far water splashes.
Hill Country Water Gardens assured me that the 2×2 reservoir would be adequate for this style of fountain. The bubbler is set low, and the water sheets over the sides rather than splashing. However, if birds really get splashy in there, I suspect I’ll have to refill more often. —Pam
Lovely, Pam, and it will attract the birds. I have a friend with one of these and the birds gather round to bathe. Watch the water level closely during these very dry days. You might be surprised about how much evaporates as it spills over the sides and when those birds get splashing around, as they will. Love your blue theme.
I’ll keep an eye on it. Thanks for the tip, Jenny. —Pam
GUSSIED UP! Really, really gussied up! My garden is 3 years old too and, um, it looks nothing like yours. Sigh.
I definitely plan to copy that hiding wall from you and Lee. Doesn’t he have the BEST ideas? Everything looks fantastic…can’t wait to see it!
Thanks so much, Mamaholt. Yes, Lee does have fantastic ideas. And so do you! —Pam
PS Really cute worker guys to boot!
Great post, I love your water features and this one is a beauty.
Thank you, Kathleen. —Pam
l also Love these fountains because they don’t require fencing to protect small children. Anything cobalt blue in the summer will cool down my view of the garden even without the water….great choice. I love the owners of HCWG…they are just the best and easiest to work with. Good selection of pots & fountains too.
Yes, HCWG is a nice nursery with excellent customer service. Good point about the safety of these kinds of water features, Sylvia. —Pam
You have autofill…right?
Nope, it’s on Pam-o-fill. 😉 —Pam
Pam, It’s perfect~the color, the look and hiring the work out! gail
Ha! The hiring out was soo nice. I like to save my digging for planting these days. —Pam
You are en fuego these days, Pam! Seriously!! How many awesome projects can one woman dream up? You are so impressive with wonderful taste – what’s next week? I can’t wait…..
I was en fuego for a couple of weeks, Rebecca, and now I’m all tuckered out! And so is my husband. He’s been building a shed for me, and now it’s all done! I’ll have pictures up soon. —Pam
The birds adore my disappearing fountain. It will definitely bring lots of wildlife to your garden. Alas, mine has a clogged up pump at the moment…a weekend project.
I’m glad to hear the birds like your fountain. They are still leery of mine right now. I guess they have to get used to it? Good luck with your pump project. —Pam
This is fabulous. But, may I say, I really, really want a swimming pool. I grew up with one and I still dream of it…really. My dreams of childhood ALWAYS include our pool. I want my babies to have those same swimming dreams. Sigh.
My husband and I both had pools for periods of our childhoods too. We really enjoy it, especially in this climate. But visits to Barton Springs Pool or Deep Eddy or some other swimming hole are still wonderful too. —Pam
Looks wonderful! I have one and it attracts all kinds of birds – even painted buntings on a few occasions (although they never stick around long enough for me to snap a non-blurry photo).
I would LOVE to see a painted bunting at the new fountain. I once saw one in my former garden and was thrilled. —Pam
Wow! Your garden looks wonderful! I love the photo with the yellow chairs and flying pig! So fun! Keep up the great work!
Thanks, Kelsey. I appreciate it. —Pam
Beautiful fountain! Also just wanted to say that the light in the very last picture of your post is beautiful– very professional looking picture!
Thanks, Melissa! —Pam