Summer's Still Here

Summer's not over yet! You still have time to work on a few garden projects.  I have one for you that you might find fun to do at this time of year. It's also a great time to get the materials at a bargain price. It's your very own fountain/water garden!

Ours started out about 10 years ago as a simple Spit'in Frog water fountain and now has become a Fairy Garden Fountain. More about that later.

Before you start, to make this successful, you must already have an outdoor outlet installed in a convenient location. This is strictly an outdoor project because the water will splash out onto the ground. I refill my fountain or top it off at least once a week.

Things you need:

• Electrical outlet
• Water-garden pump
• Large decorative pot without drain holes (I use the plastic/foam type)
• Plant drainage saucer (sized about an inch smaller than the opening of your decorative pot)
• Old plastic pot with drain holes that will fit inside your decorative pot
• Plastic tubing (about 3 feet) I used a size that would look good with my frog, about 1/4" diameter and it must fit over the pump water outlet
• plastic zip tie (to connect the tubing to the pump) follow pump directions
• Decorative 'something' like my frog if you want to drill your own hole for the tube or just place the tube between or under some stones... use your imagination!
• Rocks
• Water (don't' try running the pump without it!)

Here are some of the items I used for my fountain. Adjust some of the details to your own preference.  The most important item you will need is a water-garden pump. Make sure it is for use Outside too! I used a small one because my container is only about 1 foot tall by 16 inches across. Pumps are widely available now at garden centers, big box stores or online. They run between $10-$20.

My husband and I had seen a similar fountain at the Arboretum and wanted to create our own version. I found the cast iron frog somewhere (hey it's been 10 years) and my husband drilled a small hole in his mouth for the plastic tube.

Water Garden pump, this one has lasted for over 10 years!

Frog with tubing

Decorative leak-proof container

Inner tray with it's aged patina of old moss...

Other items for my fountain include a top 'tray' for everything decorative to sit on and a large decorative pot to contain the water.  I chose plastic because I didn't want to lug around anything too heavy but any large leak proof pot will work.  The pots are sometimes called 'consolidated foam' or 'injection molded' planters. Make sure you get one that is water proof and free of holes. I think I found mine at Big Lots.

As for the plastic 'tray', I wanted something fairly shallow, so I used a plastic drainage saucer from the local garden center. I found one that is about 14" in diameter and fits just inside my large pot which is about 16" across. You want it to be about an inch smaller than your pot so the water can drain into the bottom of the pot and you also need room to hide the extra tubing and electric cord.

I used an old black plastic pot with the drain holes precut for my round 'tray' to stand on.The pump cord and tube were threaded through the holes in the pot.

Here the fountain is partially constructed. The frog sits in the tray which is on top of the black pot in the bottom of the decorative foam pot. Once I have the pot next to the electrical outlet I can start adding some rocks. Then add your water. It will take a few minutes for the pump to prime itself with water and start running through the tubing. Be patient! It may take 5 or more minutes.

Just a note, since we live in an area with freezing winter temperatures, I drain my fountain in early October and store it in an outdoor shed for the winter. I usually start it up again in mid April if the weather is nice. This year I didn't set it up until June! We only unplug it when we are going to be out of town for several days, otherwise it runs all summer long. The benefit is that mosquitoes will not breed in running water and the water stays fresher because the pump aerates the water.

PLAIN FOUNTAIN

Nice, but not too exciting. So this year, I thought hmmmm....

Fairy Garden Fountain!!!

So I went to my local Fairy Garden, Garden Center (yes we have one) and purchased some wee little plants and a wee little turtle with a wee little house. I also found my perfect little Forget-Me-Not Fairy to add to the fountain to make it complete! I also purchased a fake hollowed out rock and planted two of my wee little plants in it to place on the side.

The Forget-Me-Not Fairy with her friends the Wee Little Turtle and the Spit'in Frog!

I hope I have inspired you to take 

advantage of those clearance priced garden center items. 

You could have your very own Fairy Fountain by the weekend! 

~ Diane ~

It's Beautiful

I am speaking of the weather. Yes the temperatures have finally returned to what it is supposed to be like here in Minnesota this time of year. Lovely cooling breezes have replaced the oppressive heat and now if it would just rain again! It has been over three weeks since we had a good rain.

We planted some large shrubs and had to move some enormous hosta plants when we did so.  We noticed that even though we thought we were watering enough, the ground was dry over a foot down into the soil.  I get the job of moving the sprinkler around the yard, my husband keeps saying "our next house will have an automatic sprinkler system", sometimes I think that would be a good idea!

Anyway... during the hot days last week, I spent some time going through some books I picked up at an estate sale over the summer. I want to share them with you because one especially is very unusual.

The first book is a very cute kids cook book called Mary Alden's Cake and Cookie Cook Book for Children. It's a step-by-step picture recipe cookbook that helps the inexperienced cook with each recipe.  I love the photos of the testers above.  Anyone you know here?

The Shiny Scoop by Camilla Wing - illustrated by Harley F. Davidson - Published by Dannie Books, Excelsior Minnesota in 1941. First Edition.

This is an unusual educational book featuring in elfish-character form - Mineral, Protein, Vitamin, Carbohydrate and Fat. In their illustrated forms, they accompany Dannie and his Mother while they visit the market. The foreword was written by E.J. Huenekens, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota.

I would guess this is an extremely rare book. I am not sure if it was widely distributed.  While researching I have not found another like it.  I also tried to locate information on the illustrator with no results, many of you may notice the name is similar to a well known motorcycle company.


They are both available in my shop, CraveCute on Etsy.

I will try and get around to all of your blogs as soon as I can.  Lets all have a wonderful week!  ~~ Diane