![]() ![]() It sits below the water line in the basin, recirculating and fine-filtering the runoff from above. The submersible pump is the heart of the system. The screen is topped with a support system made from a strong but water-resistant material, such as composite decking, to keep the body of the fountain from falling into the basin. Above that is a rigid mesh screen that blocks large debris from getting into the tub. It starts with a waterproof tub or basin that lines a hole in the ground to make a reservoir for the water. For the project shown here, we used large stones found on-site, but pavers, some metals, or pottery will all work (see our “Fountain Buying Guide") Regardless of the fountain material, the guts of the system remain the same. The sculpture can be built from any material that will withstand constant water. It’s easiest to stack your waterfall on a sturdy, level surface like a sidewalk or driveway, but if you don’t want to waste a lot of water, consider building your fountain in the center of a patch of lawn or in some other area that needs water.A fountain Is composed of three things: water, which flows up a pipe and trickles back down in a continuous cycle a pump, which propels the water and a piece of sculpture, over which the water flows.You don’t need to stop at three levels, but this was the perfect height for us.If you can find a totally level surface to stack your bowls on, your waterfall will be more likely to spill over the edges on all sides, rather than just on the downward slope like ours did.The waterfall is pretty stable, provided that you’ve used a good sturdy base for each bowl to rest on, but if it gets bumped, you don’t want broken dishes. Some tips for you if you are going to build your own waterfall: Kate didn’t seem too concerned about the missing pineapple, but she did spend nearly thirty minutes playing with her invention. ![]() Next, we added a running hose, and Voila, a pineapple waterfall. I stacked pint-sized mason jars in between the layers, but a more kid-friendly option (and also less likely to get broken) would be a tin can or any other support strong enough to hold a bowl full of water. All you need are big bowls and little bowls, just like Kate had explained. ![]() So with the above “pineapple waterfall” as inspiration (the pineapple, in case you missed it, is at the top), we set out to build our own kid-friendly waterfall:Ĭonstruction is simple. She had seen the details I had missed–big bowls and little bowls and a pineapple. I had been keeping an eye on her so she wouldn’t get wet. I remembered standing in front of a fountain at a wedding reception with her just the night before while she talked about big bowls and little bowls and pineapple. Once the playdough was cleaned up, she went to my cupboard and peered inside, telling me she needed bowls–big bowls and small bowls. ![]() This satisfied her for a few minutes, and then we got out the playdough and I thought the matter was closed. I had no idea what a pineapple waterfall was, so, doing the best I could to decode her meaning, I went to the refrigerator and pulled out a pineapple and let her help me cut it the flesh into chunks for a snack. Kate and I on a recent camping trip, hunting for rocks she can toss into the lake.īut back to the waterfall. Her job is to make as big a splash as possible. My job is to gather them up and keep her pockets full. She and I spend quite a bit of time throwing rocks. If there is water, she is usually able to find a few rocks nearby to toss in as well. That’s what makes the neighborhood splash pad so much fun.Īnd Kate can find water to splash in almost anywhere. On a recent visit to my house, my granddaughter Kate announced that she wanted to play with playdough and build a pineapple waterfall with grandma. Kate, like many youngsters her age, has a special fascination with fountains and flowing water of almost every kind. The Invention of Kate’s Pineapple Waterfall They even love helping with the dishes, and I have found that a 2-year-old can be entertained for quite a while standing next to me at a sink full of dirty dishes, provided I don’t mind changing clothes and mopping up the floor a little afterward. Toddlers are fascinated with a waterfall, a fountain, or water in general, and all you need to entertain a toddler for a substantial period of time is a water source and a few cups, funnels, or pots to move water around with. ![]()
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