Overwhelming Projects?

A very wise gardener friend told me to pick one small spot and make it just what I wanted. Don't look at the overall, but focus on small parts of the whole. I've tried to do that, and it does help. Eventually all of the small jobs will end up making your landscape beautiful!

A while back we wanted to install a fountain. I'd been dreaming of having one for years! This is at our hot xeriscaped Scottsdale, Arizona home. My husband loves projects so he jumped right in. He trenched for the plumbing.


He dug a nice deep hole and installed the fountain piping. He was able to tap into our swimming pool equipment for the water.


In an area under an olive tree, he prepared an area for the fountain pump system. After he had the plumbing done, he built a bench around the equipment. He even added an automatic filler so I wouldn't be refilling it every day!


I did a desert-style mosaic on all 4 sides of the equipment bench. The top lifts up to access the equipment. The inside of the bench is a haven for lizards, scorpions, and other critters!






It was wonderful when it was finally finished. We love to sit out and hear the trickling water on our hot triple-digit days. It has become a favorite destination for all of the neighborhood birds and bees. We love watching the hummers come to the fountain.

I'd like to take the project a bit further by adding a flagstone patio around it and connecting it to our pool kool decking. It's a bit hot now to do much on it. Later on, I have dreams of a spa connected to the swimming pool. My husband doesn't know that is on his "to do" list! :)