The best wall fountains seem to spout water as if from a hidden spring. Though building one from scratch can be tricky, there's a shortcut: Buy a premade fountain mask and basin and then take advantage of an existing wall or fence.
Water falls from mask to basin, where it recirculates to the top via a small submersible pump and some vinyl tubing.
Here, the wisteria growing up and over the brick wall hides the water supply tubing, but any sort of vining plant, or even a trellis placed against the wall, will serve the same purpose.
Alternatively, you can run the tubing up the back of the wall or fence and through a hole drilled with a long bit. This mask hangs on a 3-inch metal dowel inserted in the brick.
Be sure your basin is watertight. The interior of this basin was coated with a sealing agent; a piece of flexible liner could also serve the purpose.
1. Prep the mask.
Place the mask face down on a soft surface. Glue several pieces of cork to the back of the mask to push it far enough from the wall to allow the tubing to run behind it. With a masonry bit, drill a hole at a 45-degree angle halfway through the back of the mask, directly above the water-spout hole. | 
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2. Thread the tubing.
Cut a piece of vinyl tubing that's long enough to wind down the wall to reach the basin. Slide an elbow fitting into one end of the tubing. Cut a second piece of tubing, connect it to the other end of the fitting, and push it through the back of the mask's water-spout hole. |  |
3. Hang the mask.
Using a masonry bit, drill a hole 1 1/2 inches deep at a 45-degree angle down into the brick wall where you'll hang the mask. Slide half of a 3-inch metal dowel into the hole. Hang the mask on the wall by sliding it over the other half of the dowel. |  |
4. Connect the pump.
With mask in place, lead the tubing down the wall, concealing it behind vines or lattice. Slide the other end of the tubing over the pump outlet. Place the pump in the basin. Fill the basin with water. Plug the pump into a suitable GFCI-protected electrical outlet. Be sure your basin is watertight. The interior of this basin was coated with a sealing agent; a piece of flexible liner could also serve the purpose. |  |
Garden Pools, Fountains & Waterfalls
A Sunset bestserller-- This book provides great design ideas with step-by-step instructions for constructing ponds, fountains, and waterfalls. Includes plant and fish recommendations.
Copyright Sunset Publishing Corporation
Photography: Thomas J. Story
