Isn’t she a beauty?
This flowering fountain is my favorite planter so far and after looking back, I’ve done a lot of planters over the years…and we joke that I have the complete opposite of a green thumb. Pffft. The DIYShowOff vault is filled with proof (below) that I’m not THAT terrible a gardener. Right? Right.
Okay, onto this year’s planter project….she’s so pretty! A mix of something old, living breathing beauty and a new topper.
When we bought this old neglected house just about exactly ten years ago, we found pieces of an old fountain in the tall overgrown grass. Or maybe it was weeds or what might have been a garden at one time…but it was like finding buried treasure! And for 10 years, I’ve wanted to do something with ‘her’ but she sort of just sat discarded in that same overgrown area (and that little fenced in mess, well that’s a project for another time) or up against a hidden area of the house as a last priority. Forgotten.
I bet this rusty, chippy fountain was stunning back in her heyday with her beautiful curves. I imagine she had a bubbling personality with lots of feathered friends.
This year, Russ hefted those cast iron pieces out from hiding and cleaned them up and a plan was hatched. He drilled holes into the basin bottoms and sprayed the interior basin areas with a rubber/latex coating.
Then he assembled it, using a cyclone fence pipe to anchor and secure it into place.
We filled the basins with potting soil, plants and flowers.
Looking good, old girl! It’s worn and old and the top wasn’t quite what it used to be (not sure what it looked like back in it’s prime, but I love that we didn’t spray paint it solid.
Then I remembered that I had a decorative artichoke-type accent. It’s resin and perhaps a temporary topper but it’s secured with a blog of concrete (still wet in photos but dried to a lighter shade…still, imperfectly perfect although I may give it a little white-washing) and I AM IN LOVE! Isn’t she beautiful? Isn’t she lovely?
How old do you think she is? I’d guess at least 50-60. The imperfections of age give this girl some history. Just imagine the stories she could tell of homeowners past.
She looks like a beautiful tiered cake with luscious flowering/fruit decorations to me!
Those laugh lines and wrinkles. She’s just as striking today as she once was. At least to a lover of worn and vintage treasures like me. What do you think?
Like creative planters? Me too! Check out these past DIYShowOff projects:
patio umbrella (bundt cake pan) planter
It’s beautiful. I love all your planters!
Thank you, Sheryll! Hope all is well! xo
I love your fountain planter. I, too, like the chipped paint, rustic look. You have made it a colorful spot to which a many eye will be drawn in your yard with all the colorful flowers. It is beautiful! I like the painted tire planter as well. You have some wonderful ideas.
What great ideas. I love anything with flowers in it.
She’s glorious!! Oh what a marvelous treasure you did find, but it took a keen eye to see the beauty and potential in her. You guys did an outstanding job. I love the pop of colors as much as the flaking of the old paint.
I will now be on a birds eye search for a treasure such as this.
Wow! Amazing! I really love flowers but, I don’t know what to do with them. Thanks to you Roeshel for this wonderful idea.
She really is beautiful Roeshel. Is that a little creeping Jenny that you planted in the fountain?
Thank you, Michelle! I had to Google “creeping jenny”. lol That’s what it looks like! And it’s all doing well!
Ooh I love this – such a unique idea! I’ve had an old fountain and bird bath sitting in my shed for years now because they just didn’t go with my garden. But this has given me such a good idea to add in some colourful flowers and succulents to mix in with my backyard theme. Thanks 🙂