Backyard Fountain Installation
 8/21/01

We've wanted to have a water feature in the back yard for quite a while. Rick has actually wanted one since he was a kid. After looking around at various types of fountains, ponds and waterfalls, we finally found just the right one. The day after the fountain was delivered, we headed out to the garden center to pick up a large tub and a pump. Then it was time to start digging!

(1) We marked off the basic location with some string. The fountain is made of granite and is 24 inches tall. It weighs about 300 pounds.

(2) Then we started digging up the top-soil and making the hole. The bucket holds 30 gallons and is 12 inches deep.

(3) Some cinder blocks support a 2 inch thick stone plate which the fountain sits on. Chicken wire covers the top of the bucket so that the stones don't fall down inside.

(4) With the stones in place, the bucket, pump and cord are all hidden. The power cord was buried between the concrete patio and the grass, and is connected to a timer in the garage.

The sunlight really shines on the flowing water.

We spent some time making sure it was level so that the water flows over all sides.

Here's the finished fountain.

The view from the bedroom is wonderful!