toni
 Administrator
Plants Moderator
Regular Plants Contributor
North Texas, Zone 8a
Posts: 11711
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 5:21 pm Post subject: Washtub with some plants and fountain |
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I don't have as many plants in there as I would like. I did find some at the online water plants site Cheryl told me about that I want to order next week.
The fountain is solar powered and right now I am playing with where to put the solar panel....too much full sun makes the water shoot too high and out of the tub, too little sun means very little action like in the photo, but I'll get it right eventually.
Washtub garden with fountain ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )
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cherylad
Regular Plants Contributor
S. Liberty County - Texas
Posts: 5278
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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I love it! I love it! Especially with the fountain feature.
And it's solar? How cool is that?!! How is set up? Solar panel to a battery? Is that pricey or very affordable?
Now aren't you glad you went and ahead and got the tub?! 
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toni
Administrator
Plants Moderator
Regular Plants Contributor
North Texas, Zone 8a
Posts: 11711
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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I love my tub and the sticker shock has worn off now 
Do you have a Harbor Freight store near you? You can find it online too. They are strictly solar, we have another one on the cauldron fountain on the other side of the yard too. The pump, solar panel and attachments to make it a sprayer are normally $30 but right now they are on sale for $20.
You can have the fountain in the shade since the cord connecting the pump and solar panel is about 16 feet long there is plenty of length to place it in a sunny spot.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=solar+water+pump
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To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with Spring ----
George Santayana
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marlingardener
Central Texas, zone 8
Posts: 2388
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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Toni,
Love your washtub/fountain/water garden! When you got the washtub I just knew you'd do something fabulous with it.
I may get one of those solar pumps for the hens. They've gotten a trifle bored with their hot tub, and a spray feature might entertain them! Just kidding, the spray would aerate their water and also cool the coop a bit. It would be nice to have one in the big wild bird watering station, too.
No wonder they call you "The Enabler"!
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toni
Administrator
Plants Moderator
Regular Plants Contributor
North Texas, Zone 8a
Posts: 11711
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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For larger applications they also have http://www.harborfreight.com/floating-solar-fountain-pump-91962.html
Enabler, phoo, I am just sharing good stuff with everyone.
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To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with Spring ----
George Santayana
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carolyn keiper
northern ohio
Posts: 2644
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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OHHH, that is cute. You did a great job. I have no vision. I can't really see what to do with something... I keep stabbing away until I achieve my goal. You inspire me.
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cherylad
Regular Plants Contributor
S. Liberty County - Texas
Posts: 5278
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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| toni wrote: | | Enabler, phoo, I am just sharing good stuff with everyone. |
No... Jane's right... ENABLER!
Off to check out Harbor Freight! I've been wanting to do a fountain with the old water pump handle I found in my uncles shed. And my brother and I were discussing how to make it work using solar power... but he made it sound so hard and expensive.
I think I just found my answer! 
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Philip Nulty
The Midlands,Ireland
Posts: 2447
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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Great job!,..listening to water trickle in the garden adds to it,..i like the fact its solar powered,..rather than have it electric powered with a cable running from the house,..you certainly have made good use of the Tub,..well done!.
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toni
Administrator
Plants Moderator
Regular Plants Contributor
North Texas, Zone 8a
Posts: 11711
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:03 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks all for the nice comments on my water tub. I think more Iris, another Lily and a Cattail are the next plants to put in.
Without having found the solar powered pumps I wouldn't have water fountains out in the garden. I do have a smallish one on the front porch that is electric but that's the next to be converted to solar.
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To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with Spring ----
George Santayana
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cherylad
Regular Plants Contributor
S. Liberty County - Texas
Posts: 5278
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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| toni wrote: | | I think more Iris, another Lily and a Cattail are the next plants to put in. |
When I was reading up on water lilies before I got my first ones... somewhere it said that water lilies don't like alot of "motion" as with fountains.
Maybe someone else here can confirm this?
Just don't want you getting a plant that won't be happy in your tub.
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cherylad
Regular Plants Contributor
S. Liberty County - Texas
Posts: 5278
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 2:29 am Post subject: |
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Sorry about double posting....
Just ordered 2 of the solar kits Toni recommended...
Then saw the "refer a friend" deal where Toni could have earned $10!
So... my suggestion... if anybody else was convinced by Toni's new tub fountain feature to order one of the kits... have her "refer" you so she can be rewarded.
Even an ENABLER deserves a reward here and there! 
And with her earnings... maybe she can purchase something else that will entice us followers! 
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Frank
Administrator
Originally Galway, Ireland
Posts: 12564
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 2:50 am Post subject: |
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Very excellent Toni  Where is the solar panel? If I follow the wire in the photo I will find it?
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toni
Administrator
Plants Moderator
Regular Plants Contributor
North Texas, Zone 8a
Posts: 11711
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Frank wrote: | | Very excellent Toni Where is the solar panel? If I follow the wire in the photo I will find it? |
Not as much fun as following the yellow brick road but here goes....
Cord leaving the wash tub ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )
Cord across the bed, needs to covered with mulch ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )
Up and over the fence ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )
Panel hooked to fence facing north ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )
The panel is a convenient size for putting where you need it. ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )
I will have to watch the sun's movement through the day and move the panel when needed. And as the sun heads south again over the next 3 months it will change few times again.
If I let it sit in full sun, the spray is too high and empties the tub. So I have to be sure it isn't getting full, straight on sunlight.
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