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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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June 17, 2014

Repurposed Outdoor Fountain

You know those pictures that look one way when you are standing further back but as you get closer you see that the image is really completely different?

Like where you think you’re looking at a painting of a beautiful lake but when you get closer you realize that it’s a giant elephant….or something like that. 😉

You know what I’m talking about right? The ol’ trick of the eye!

repurposed fountain into tiered planter

Well, there’s something in my backyard that’s playing tricks on everyone!

Repurposed outdoor fountain turned planter atthepicketfence.com You see, at first glance, this looks like a lovely garden path leading to a bird bath tucked among the plants.

garden path with bird bath atthepicketfence.com

But, walk closer…keep coming…a little bit more…and you will soon discover that you’ve been deceived.

It’s not a birdbath after all. Nope! It’s a broken fountain turned bacteria filled science experiment.

Yuck!

yucky old fountain

After many failed attempts to trick myself into thinking that this really could pass for a birdbath I decided it was time to just re-purpose this baby and give it a whole new lease on life.

So, I filled it with potting soil…

bird bath filled with potting soil

…placed a clay pot in the middle…

building a tiered outdoor planter

….filled it with plants…

old fountain turned planter atthepicketfence.com

…added another clay pot on top and filled that one too.

tiered outdoor fountain turned garden planter atthepicketfence.com

No more tricks…no more deceit…no more bacteria.

Just a whole bunch of prettiness spilling out from top to bottom!

repurposed fountain turned planter

Now, are you ready to see a whole lot more prettiness??

We’re joining this amazing lineup of bloggers this week for a Fun in the Sun Blog Hop!

Fun in the Sun Blog Hop 600px

 

Domestically Speaking

Debbie Doo’s

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Setting for Four

Clean and Scentsible

Town and Country Living

DIY Show Off

At The Picket Fence

Cupcakes and Crinoline

Sand & Sisal

Fox Hollow Cottage

 Be sure to come back tomorrow to link up your own fabulous summer projects AND enter to win this awesome giveaway!

Fun in the sun graphic final

Now get out there and enjoy some sunshine!

If you have some…if not, curl up with a good book and a big cup of coffee ok? 😉

Vanessa signature

 

34 Comments Filed Under: Gardening, Good Ideas, Outdoors, Summer

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Comments

  1. Jennifer @ Town and Country Living says

    June 17, 2014 at 5:16 AM

    Cute idea! Love the stacked effect of this planting. 🙂

    Reply
  2. chelsea says

    June 17, 2014 at 6:55 AM

    Absolutely beautiful!

    Reply
  3. Bridget says

    June 17, 2014 at 7:20 AM

    We would have never known, looked good, but even better now!

    Reply
  4. Richella Parham says

    June 17, 2014 at 7:34 AM

    What a great idea! The pedestal effect of the old fountain is really nice, and the stacked pots? Brilliant! The Pacific Northwest is a great place to grow things, isn’t it? 🙂

    Reply
  5. debbiedoos says

    June 17, 2014 at 8:13 AM

    That is soooo stinkin cute! I want to do it now in our rotten bird bath:)

    Reply
  6. AM Shield Corp says

    June 17, 2014 at 9:50 AM

    You are so clever and creative! Never would’ve guess that was an old bird bath.

    Reply
  7. kristin says

    June 17, 2014 at 9:55 AM

    I love this idea and it so pretty!!! What is it with water fountains and breaking 🙂 Our’s is being turned into a fireplace after it being an eye sore for way too many years. XXOO Kristin

    Reply
  8. Shannon @ Fox Hollow Cottage says

    June 17, 2014 at 10:11 AM

    Gah! I know right? Our outdoor areas are soooo hard to keep up here. That wet is a real hindrance. You made that fountain shine again though. Such a smarty!!

    Reply
  9. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    June 17, 2014 at 10:13 AM

    Very pretty, Vanessa! I did this with a cement bird bath I had at our old house a few years ago. It was perfect in our front bed, but what a pain to keep it filled with water, especially in the hot summer sun. I didn’t put dirt in the bath itself, but got a pot that had hanging plants to sit in it, that kind of hid it, and it was a great way to bring some color up off the ground, too.

    Reply
  10. Joanne Boulter says

    June 17, 2014 at 11:00 AM

    Great post!
    It’s all loverly! Jo
    From Anne’s Attic – Design https://fulcolbaxia.wordpress.com

    Reply
  11. April Farley says

    June 17, 2014 at 11:34 AM

    Very charming ! I just love turning different things into planters. My husband has taken to scolding me over it. Ya have to many plants woman! Well I say can you REALLY have TOO many? :o)

    Reply
  12. Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says

    June 17, 2014 at 11:50 AM

    What a great repurposed project! Love all your lush greenery too!

    Reply
  13. Barbara from 21 Rosemary Lane says

    June 17, 2014 at 1:33 PM

    Wonderful idea! I love re-purposed items!
    XO Barbara

    Reply
  14. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    June 17, 2014 at 8:15 PM

    Very very pretty and so clever! I love the fountain, science project and all!

    Reply
  15. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    June 18, 2014 at 6:06 AM

    Love the idea of stacking the pots and using the fountain as a pedestal!…A garden topiary!…beautiful!!!

    Reply
  16. Chelle Chapman says

    June 18, 2014 at 9:33 AM

    VERY nice! I love stacked planters lately & this one just takes the cake!!

    Reply
  17. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says

    June 18, 2014 at 1:39 PM

    What a great idea! And it looks so pretty!

    Reply
  18. Sue J says

    June 19, 2014 at 2:19 AM

    Totally love this and have pinned for future reference on my Garden Lust board

    Reply
  19. Heather says

    June 19, 2014 at 6:27 AM

    Yep – those birdbaths gross me out too….as an ex-Microbiologist they gross me out even more lol!!! Same as those kiddie pools if they aren’t drained and filled routinely – yucko!! Anyway back to your gorgeous outdoor fountain!! How clever of you to stack the pots! I love the cascading plants you added too- soooo pretty! Wish I was hanging out with you admiring it in person this summer – it’s been so fun to party with you again sweet friend! xo Heather

    Reply
  20. Mary Beth @ Cupcakes and Crinoline says

    June 20, 2014 at 4:25 PM

    This is an absolutely awesome repurpose. I have two fountains that no longer work 🙁 I’ll have to turn at least one of them into something that will hopefully be as pretty as this.

    Reply
  21. Hosea says

    June 21, 2014 at 8:20 AM

    Keep this going please, gteat job!

    Reply
  22. martina says

    June 21, 2014 at 7:44 PM

    Vanessa I want one just like it…love it!!

    Reply
  23. Hazel Owens says

    May 2, 2016 at 8:04 AM

    The fountain-turned-planter looks beautiful! I think that’s a great way to re-purpose a fountain or bird bath that isn’t fit for water anymore. I love the grass and other plants that you used in the display. I might have to try this out someday. Thanks for the idea!

    Reply

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  5. Fun In The Sun Link Party and Giveaway! - At The Picket Fence says:
    June 18, 2014 at 5:20 AM

    […] Yesterday, some of our talented friends shared their Fun In The Sun projects and Vanessa shared how to make a tiered planter out of a Repurposed Outdoor Fountain! […]

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