Flower Filled Fountains
We had always wanted a fountain—love the sound of running water. When we saw this fountain on sale, we bought it and installed it close to our front porch, where we enjoyed it for several years. Then we decided to remove the old hedge along the foundation and, at the same time, discovered that our fountain leaked. We liked it in front of the house, so decided to convert it into a planter. We used landscape blocks to both elevate it and help make it a real focal point. I repainted it to give it a sort of terra cotta look, and I love it!


The top of the fountain didn’t have much room for soil, so shallow rooted succulents seemed like the best choice. Trailing purple petunias, purple star petunias and trailing big leaf variegated vinca major combined with a few other accent plants made this season’s planting a knock out. Although the variegated sedge on the bottom of the fountain didn’t fill in as fast as I would have liked, they did add interest. The first photo shows the fountain maybe three weeks after planting, and the second photo is midway through the season.





Final thought: When you love something but it no longer works for it’s original use, don’t be quick to discard it. We moved this fountain around the yard several times over several years before inspiration hit. It was when we removed the top that we were able to see it in a different light. From fountain to planter to garden art—each incarnation fit our needs at the time. Have patience, and if you love it, you can make it work.