A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Hobbies, Crafts and Creativity SOLAR LIGHTS AND FOUNTAINS...

I've gotten on a new kick...Solar lights and fountains. I love these solar lights you get really cheap at Walmart and other places. I probably have way too many, but just love the light at night, very soothing outside.
My other interest are fountains, both inside and out, but they really are either expensive or really cheap looking. I only have one for my deck and I really like it.

My questions.
Does anyone have any good idea's for crafts using outdoor solar lights?
Does anyone have any good idea's for making your own fountains?

I'm really not very crafty, but will give it a try.

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

oh mannnn, I used to have so many solar lights in my yard of different shapes and colors I'm sure I was confusing Airplanes going into DFW airport
I still have a few. I bought a multi wired butterfly solar lights at target, attached to one solar panel, and bought several cheap wire decorative 18" wire garden fence. I nailed the fencing to my wood fence one above the other, from half way up the fence to top, and had enough to about 8 foot wide, then attached the butterfly solars to the metal fence . I planted 3 baby clematis, so it will climb on the metal fencing, to fill in the entire area and butterflys will be showing in the evening, It will be a focal point as I look out the patio door. I also have bought the multi string dragon fly solar, and placed in a rock garden area with lavender and sage the "rock solar" fits right in, and the dragon flys peek out from the lavender and sage at night and turn different colors, it's nice and looks good from the curb in front of my house.
keep in mind this blank area of the picture below will fill in with the clematis :wink:



I really want a solar fountain. I have looked into many of them but haven't found one that is "me" yet.The ones I find on line are either too short, too bulky, too common/cheap looking.
I also have considered making my own by ordering just the pump and solar panel.
There are so many idea's swimming in my head, from barrels, to cascading from one thing to another several points of drops streaming to a larger "pool" at the bottom with maybe some water lilys in it with a small spitting fountain in the middle.
I have looked at the idea of doing this for over 2 years, just haven't really came up with an idea of my own to create one that I know I'd be happy with.
I have seen solar fountains on line with a led light in them for ambiance lighting, they "Look" nice, but again they are short, two foot tall isn't tall enough for me, I'm looking for at least 3 foot tall, so I can plant different height perennials around the base.

Angelblossom those are some really cool ideas with the solar lights...will need to study it a little more to figure out the exact how you did it. (Cleaning floors right now!) I did see a pretty water feature on line and what it was, is a bird bath with a thick base, probably the actual leg/base of the bird bath was down inside the larger base. Anyway, the bottom went into a pool of rocks, which were probably in a small pond. One of those pond liners you see at walmart made out of hard plastic. and that was surrounded by wood or something, but you could probably put plants around it. anyway the water came up the middle of the bird bath and overflowed evenly on all sides and splashed back down onto the rocks. It was really the prettiest "homemade"fountain I've seen. And recently I saw a beautiful, multicolored bird bath that would be pretty in this setting. Later, after cleaning floors, I will find the website this was on and get it to you. I would change somethings up with it, but the basic idea was really neat.

Back to floors....ugh!

I just watched a load of videos on utube about making your own solar water fountain, soooooo many Ideas! WOW don't know why I didn't think of utube before?

What you did, Diane, is really pretty! I hope someday Willy Village is going to be under it or near it!

I haven't tried it. But you have a nice idea. :) Keep going and post pics of your crafts

Wheres Willy village?

This was the thread that made me want solar lights. Now I have them all over my yard and it's lovely at night.

Post a nite photo.. I have a few but not lots.

Hi angelblossom ............long time no see .. Hows the boysssss.
Dodge (Barb

Nice. Got any pics? I actually plan to get some of those for my garden in the near future.

I don't have a picture but I'll get one.

Interesting idea but I would love to see more.

I have water wiggles in my bird baths that light up at night. I got them on amazon. The movement of the water is supposed to keep mosquitos away. I got some lights that stick in the ground at the Dollar Store for a dollar.

Yes, sounds cute..I will have to look the wiggles up. The previous owners left a bird bath. I was thinking of getting a solar powered fountain, but the wiggles sound interesting.

We tried a solar fountain but when leaves fall or blow in it, it clogs. We have lots of leaves. I like it, especially the sound of the water, but it was a problem.

thanks for the information

I have always wondered how Solar lights work when there is no sun. I have been planning to get some for my garden, But should I wait till the temperatures start to rise up again? Also, do I need to monitor the amount of sunlight I might get through weather apps like Climacell or Accuweather?

Solar lights recharge even in partial light. They also hold a charge from previous days....there is no need to monitor the daylight.

Agree with Sunny. My solar lights come on even if it's been dreary and rained all day. Love solar lights.