A 1920's concrete fountain...oh, go to the Test forum here on GW and look for info on how to post a pic, please!

I would certainly think you could plant it with annuals or even create a veg container garden (not sure about drainage, but there are plenty of discussions about container gardens on the Veg.Forums); is it in front or in back of your lot? I personally would try to bring the fountain back to life and create a wonderful perennial or formal garden around it. Or fill with soil and plant a wonderful display of annuals.

If I had this old fountain, I would do everything I could to restore it.

It does sound like there are going to be challenges doing this. You need to consider all issues so they are resolved properly. I would research and ask anyone familiar with this type of thing before making any type of final decisions. I would also write down what people suggest so everything can be carefully considered.

It seems to me that you have a wonderful thing that should be brought back to life. Filling it with dirt is just not going to do it justice, unless restoration is just impossible.

I would also love to see it. I also need help getting photos posted!

SG

Thank you for your suggestions. I would like to post a photo, but it appears that in this forum I need to provide a link to a web photo hosting service, and I don't have such an account.

Would you recommend a landscaper planner to assist in this decision? Is that they type of professional I need to connect with?

Thanks.

I posted a picture in the Garden Galleries/Landscape Design/Ponds - I hope it shows up ok! It is called Old Fountain.

I found your photo. That is a wonderful old fountain pond, and a big one too. Is that green sludge I see inside it or grass. I can see your reservations about restoring to a working fountain now with no water supply; and you'd have to dig and lay pipe from somewhere. How did the neighbors supply water to it I wonder? Do you have toddlers that may fall into 2' of water?

If it were at my house, I would definitely keep it as a fountain. Just think of the wonderful garden you could create around that as the focal point. I didn't notice if you posted your questions on the Pond forum, if not I'm sure someone will offer suggestions on rigging up a water supply and maintenance of the pool.

Even if you only drained it and let it sit empty, I feel it's an antique feature that will look wonderful. I wouldn't even set pots of flowers in it - just enjoy the design of it. You didn't mention the style of your house. Is it also from the 1920's?

Hi. I signed up recently and just found your inquiry.
Hope you don't mind resurrecting this old post.

Many of those older fountains were 'waste water' style, which means there was a constant flow of water straight into and out of the pool which involved lots of plumbing. Water was wasted! Today's pools, ponds, etc. are mostly self-contained systems, which include a recirculating pump to move the water thru the actual fountain, or waterfall, and back into the pool. Only thing else you need is a hose connected to a water supply to fill it up as needed.
Before you do anything, though, you should check your local code to see what current restrictions are made on water depth, fencing requirements, etc. There are ways to work these things out, if you really want to do so.
For 10 years I raised and 'installed' water lilies, lotuses, and other water plants in conjunction with a fountain specialist company. This allowed me to access many older water installations on estates and homes that would not have occured otherwise. Saw many really nice, tasteful gardens with the water feature as centerpiece, both formal and natural. And a few terrible 'improved' and rehabbed places with really fake Mediteranian Blue dyed water that made it look like a cheap Florida motel pool. Not good. Simpler is usually better, period.
Enjoy your fountain!

Nancy in Cincinnati

We (the garden club) planted flowers in our 1960s concrete fountain when the water jets and pipes failed and the city decided not to restore it about 2 decades ago. Since it was just a plain octagonal pool with brick sides and granite slabs topping the brick (nice for sitting)we mounded the dirt up a bit in the middle. Annual flowers do great in fact many self seed, even bulbs and a few perennials. Its in a prominent spot in the downtown so we go for color. Its my understanding that the pipes are still there so the fountain committee may want to repair it eventually. That would be ok too, but in the meantime its beautiful every summer.
kathy

I wish the OP would give us an update.

Hello,
I am glad there is interest in old fountains! Mine is still there. It was virtually empty until lots of snow. While I was out of town, unfortunately someone's pet met demise in the pond full of water - melted snow mixed with rain. I have since drained it. I am really not interested in keeping the water feature now. By the way, the pond is very water tight, which surprises me for such an old fountain/pond. Now wondering about planting the pond (prefer), or knocking it in and covering it up totally.

When our pool went away over a year ago, they first broke large squares out of the bottom so the shell would drain. Concrete cutting services can cut holes for drainage and leave the rest intact. If someone in the future wanted to go back, it could be restored to a fountain. Linda

Hope you don't mind me posting the photo. It's beautiful.
Linda

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Thanks for posting the picture!! The pond is at least 2 ft deep. Cutting drainage holes is an idea I hadn't thought of. Does yours drain ok, and is there any mushy, muddy impact on the surrounding soil? Now that y'all can see the pond ... if I follow the suggestions to plant it, what would you plant in it? There are 2 huge camellia bushes that overlook the pond one sort of in center by the pond pump tub, and the either off the right corner. Thanks for the continued interest in this!

If large holes are cut or jackhammered into the bottom, the water inside will drain normally. It will become a giant flower pot, and wouldn't change anything in the surrounding ground. Filling it with soil without drainage would create a bog. It could be planted with anything that grows well in your area. Others here would be more helpful with the plant selection. I'm far from a landscaper, lol. Here's the 'pond' we buried, lol. Linda

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