If you like the soothing sound of trickling water but are short on space, a container fountain could be the solution. The materials are readily available and inexpensive and the labor is minimal.

The pipe for the water and the spout are made from bamboo, which is naturally hollow, though you may want to make the openings larger. The bamboo cross pieces that hold the pipe in place are tied together with copper wire, which will develop an attractive greenish patina over time.

The container came already glazed and sealed, but if you choose one that is porous, you can make it watertight with an acrylic masonry sealer or a coating of epoxy paint. If it has a drainage hole in the bottom, stop it up and cover the plug with silicone caulk. The small pump inside is appropriately sized to the container.

1 Wash out the container, rinse the rocks, and allow both to dry. Cut a piece of clear vinyl tubing and connect it to the outlet on the pump. Lay the pump on the container’s bottom and secure it with a few rocks.
2 Make certain to select a plant that grows in water, also taking into consideration its sunlight requirements (this plant is a miniature umbrella). Secure the plant in a small container and place it at the bottom of the large container. Hide the pump’s cord behind it and hold both in place with more rocks.
3 Insert the tubing into the bamboo pipe until it comes out the hole for the spout. Position the bamboo assembly in the container, pull through the tubing, and cut off the excess. Attach the spout and aim it where you want it.
4 Add more stones to the container and fill the container with water to the desired level (but higher than the level of the pump). If the pump begins to make a humming noise, it means the container needs more water.

Photography by Norman A. Plate, Copyright Sunset Publishing Corporation