Warning... usual long story from Cheryl again! This past weekend... another one of my aunts (yes... I have that many!) called and wanted us to come over and clean up one of her flower beds. I was a bit confused when she called. She has TONS of flower beds, and they were all meticulously manicured. She'll be turning 80 later on in the year... so I'm sure her kids and grandkids have been helping out in the yard. Notice I said "helping". When she's able, she's out there pulling weeds and watering, etc. But I digress... back to that one lone flower bed needing help... Why? Then it hit me. We just recently redid her sister's flower beds, and I guess she was feeling left out. Plus... she probably just wanted the company for the day. So Hubby & I go over. Was pretty easy job to get the weeds out since it previously had plastic down and was mulched. She only wanted to keep a few plants in it... some gorgeous Ferns that have awesome white flowers (fragrant too). And a few Periwinkles. The rest... she wanted dug out. She said they were lilies... but I think they were Crinum (I got some from her last year) and some Paper White Lilies too. So of course I was happy to accept a few of each of the plants. There's no way I could have found a place for them all. So we set the rest aside for one of her daughter's to come and get. There were also some concrete blocks in there... and she wanted them out to make another walk way with. No problem. Cleared it all out. Placed some of that weed fabric and then mulched. Hubby started on her walkway but ran out of pads. We'll have to go back and finish that. She asked if I wanted any other plants. I was waiting on that! She has some almost bronze colored day lilies. Guess who got one? She tried to pay us, but instead, we just asked if she'd just bake us a German Chocolate Cake. Deal! We load up the tools and plants and come home. Now... that was just the first part of the story. See... I told it was LONG! Where the heck am I going to plant all of these??? So I set them all in water and tucked them away in the shade. Part 2. Dumpster Diving. I get to work the next morning and what do I spot next to one of the dumpsters.... dumpster basket ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) This good-sized basket with fake flowers in it. I didn't give a darn about the flowers... but it sure was a cute basket. So I tossed it in the truck. On the drive home... I kept thinking of what to do with it. First off... plastic flowers would be tossed in the trash. Hmmm... basket.... WAIT! The fern from my aunts! But where could I set it? So I get to the house and right in front of me... all the answers! We live at the end of a county road... and one of the water lines ends there. There's this big ugly pipe sticking up where they flush the lines ever so often. And that's where our water shut off valve is. It's also kinda easy to back over if you're not paying attention, so last year, I placed blocks around it, planted a couple of Crinum and some Crocosmias... but it's been pretty much left to just grow wild. You never know when the water department may need to come and do some work on it (like when the pipe burst this past winter due to the freeze). "water" bed-before ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) There's a few lilies right at the end of the fence, But it's been pretty much just left alone and getting uglier by the day! So... I decided to clean it up and give these new plants a home. "water" bed-cleaned ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Finished it out with newspaper and mulch. But there was still that ugly pipe sticking up. Wait! Remember those plastic flowers in the basket? So... off to the store to buy some fake Ivy to add to the stuff I'd tossed in the trash. Wrapped the pipe with it. But it was still missing something. What's a big old water faucet without a bucket???? So I grabbed the old bucket from the "ugly fence" and stuck in some Petunia's that were in desperate need of help. And finally.... my new "water" bed.... "water" bed complete ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) And now when you drive up to the house... you'll see this instead of that first ugly picture. "water bed"-house view ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) And if the water company has a problem with it? Well... it is run by my cousin... and my best friend's husband works for them... so, I don't think I'll hear any complaints about my new "water" bed!
A piece of junque is not safe in the trash anywhere in your vicinity. You are one clever lady. Water pipes around the country are green with envy and a lot of people have a new solution for their ugly pipes. Two Thumbs Up, Jerry
Cheryl everything seems to have fallen into place perfectly for you. I think you were meant to go to your aunts and get those plants. Then passing the dumpster on your way to work and seeing that lovely basket was clearly supposed to happen. Even the fake flowers were obviously destined to find a home with you. The final, and most important, ingredient was your amazing ability to imagine how everything could come together and create a feature for your garden that is so lovely. You are an inspiration to us all.
Cheryl, you certainly are inventive,..well done with the basket and the bucket not to mention the ivy,..right off i started looking at old water pumps here in Ireland,..VERY OLD,..before water was supplied to each house there was a village pump,..here are some that your finished project reminded me of. Flickriver: Most interesting photos from Water Pumps of Ireland pool
Cheryl, you are a constant source of amazement and inspiration. I'm going to ask the local water company to put one of those faucet things in our yard so I can transform it! If your aunt's cake was as good as it sounds, you were amply paid!
Thanks everyone for the kind words. Wonder what my brother "the dragon" is going to say about? Can't wait for the cake.... I was thinking about it and a big cold glass of milk last night! Philip... I really enjoyed the photos of the old pumps/wells. Wish there was something that neat in the front yard instead of just a pipe! My brother did rescue an old pump from my uncles workshop. pump ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) I thought about incorporating it out there, but if someone stole it.... I'd be killed without mercy! So... it's just sitting aside for now. Just haven't gotten the perfect place figured out to use it as a fountain or something.
Cheryl, When we lived in town, my husband made a water feature out of a galvanized bucket and a pump like yours. He ran clear plastic tubing from the bucket to the pump and ended the tubing just at the end of the pump spout. He installed a small submersible pump (from Harbor Freight and cheap) in the bucket to recirculate the water. He placed the pump on an upright cedar log so it was about a foot higher than the bucket. Birds came to drink from the trickle, since the sound of water attracts birds. We had butterflies and bees "puddling" on the log where the spout dripped.
That sounds heavenly! I've looked at how-to instructions. It doesn't look hard. I think the main problem is figuring out where to put it. Naturally, I'd want it in my section of the yard... but then my brothers may want it somewhere else. I think I'll just have to start discussing it with them and get this project underway!
Great 'water bed' and it was almost entirely free AND you will have a delicious German Chocolate cake too. Can't beat that with a stick
