Backyard Fountain

© Stuart Pearl 2010 (Click on Images to Enlarge)

Jeanne and I have always enjoyed water sounds - as long as they aren't created by leaky roofs, faucets, or gutters. Streams and fountains can offer a welcome break from the mowers and leaf blowers of suburbia.

For several years we had considered building a backyard pond. Since I'm pretty handy with home projects Jeanne thought this would be easily within my talents. Enter the "Honey-Do-List."

Our property had a number of issues though. Numerous backyard trees would mean lots of seed pods, debris and leaves in a pond. We quickly decided against that maintenance headache. We'd also have to contend with obnoxious surface roots which would make digging all but impossible in the spot next to our patio.

Visiting local garden centers we came up with the idea of a do-it-yourself fountain. They can be small, require little or no digging and can be placed almost anywhere.

You can take the easy route and buy the ready-made water feature. Lowes and Home Depot have "fountain in a box"for less than $100: take it home, add water, plug it in, and you have instant burbling. But where's the challenge in that?

Jeanne and I tend do home improvement projects from scratch. They always take longer. However, they are much more creative and we get exactly what we want.

The first step in building our fountain was to find two large, glazed flower pots at our local garden center. We also bought a small pump, tubing, about 35lbs of decorative granite rocks, and then began preparing the area for installation.

The flower bed where we intended to build the fountain is plagued by tree roots. A large silver maple provides great shade to our picnic table but constantly raises patio blocks with it's shallow roots. I was concerned that future growth would shift the fountain's base.

To deal with this I dug a four foot diameter hole about 10" deep. This was filled with about 1,000 pounds of gravel. Jeanne and I had gradually worked up to the challenge of pouring so much gravel by having moved eight yards of topsoil into the backyard last month for another project. Still, we hit the Advil pretty hard that night.

Once poured and leveled, the gravel bed was now ready for the other items. I next added a four foot diameter Bluestone pedestal I'd had cut into a circle by my local stone mason. This was made from four squares, each weighing about 50 pounds. I made sure these were level and then Jeanne and I added the two pots.

The second smaller pot was inserted in the larger one, being raised into position with paver bricks.

We then installed a pump, placed decorative rocks, added water, plugged it in........and watched it leak all over the place. This was a problem since my intent was to build a fountain and not a sprinkler system.

To mount the water pump in the base of the large pot, it is necessary to thread the power cord through the pot's drain hole and then seal it. The latter was not done very well with the plumbers puddy I'd been provided.

Several hours later the pots were drained, dried, and ready for more caulking. This time there was no obvious sign of dripping. And that evening we had our first patio dinner by the fountain.

The appearance and sound of our backyard fountain far exceeded our expectations; we were very happy with the results. It blended in perfectly with our landscape and sounded very relaxing.

But within a day, Jeanne noticed the water level was slowly going down..... again. Since I didn't see an obvious leak, I told her it must be due to evaporation and the large thirsty birds in the neighborhood. She didn't buy that story.

We soon noticed the base of the pedestal was always damp. And that's when we realized the flaw in our project. Although we were very careful to select fired and glazed pots, we forgot that these pots are not glazed on the BOTTOM. The clay is hardenned throughout from being fired, but it still retains it's porous nature. Water was slowly seeping out through that bottom area.

Fortunately the craft shops know all about this deficiency. They sell latex spray-on sealers designed exactly for this purpose.

We'll be disassembling the fountain in October to protect it from winter. When it's been thoroughly dried we will make the "modifications." Untill then we continue to enjoy relaxing patio dinners by our fountain. It really is very soothing. And if you feel like building one yourself, drop me an email and I'll tell you what to do........ and what to avoid.

UPDATE: The leak no longer seems so important. Yesterday we discovered a massive algae bloom had exploded in both pots. The combination of bright sunlight and high temperatures had created an excellent growing medium. Jeanne couldn't drive to Home Depot fast enough to buy a pint of algacide. And once we finished with the dinner dishes, we began scrubbing the fountain's rocks. Relaxing indeed.

Spring & Early Summer Images from Cleveland

© Stuart Pearl 2010 (Click Image to Enlarge)

Spring in Cleveland brings interesting weather, fascinating cloud patterns, and high contrast light. The low angle sun often provides interesting photo opportunities.

This image of Frank Geary's building on the Case Western Reserve campus was shot one early cloudy morning on my way to work. That's a great time to do photography. The sun is just coming up and it's low angle creates wonderful shadows, textures and highlights. Shot with an ultra wide angle lens and a circular polarizer the building looks like something from a Tim Burton movie.

Just a couple of mornings later bright sun creates contrasting reflections amidst pools of darkness.

A short walk away is the Cleveland Botanical Garden with an island of tulips greeting you at the main entrance. Continuing south on East Blvd, the Cleveland Museum of Art's new wing comes into view. It's lines offer start contrast to the original classical design.

Beyond this point the south stairs come into view with vistas of Wade lagoon and other scultpture.

With the Lagoon in the background, the morning sun washes across Chester A. Beach's "Fountain of the Waters" which sits by the south entrance to the museum. Beach was an American sculptor (1881 - 1956) and is known or his medallic art and busts.

A few miles west is the Playhouse Square area containing Cleveland's theater district. NPR affiliate WVIZ/WCPN Ideastream is headquartered there with its distinctive " Idea Center" vertical signage.

Remodelled Euclid Avenue sports modern bus shelters for the RTA Healthline as well as some interesting public art.

"Chorus Line Luminaries" by urban designer and public artist Stephen Manka challenges your vision with shifting colors as buses approach.

Manka's stainless steel sculpture is a stylized interpretation of dancers kicking in a Broadway chorus line. It is fascinating to study the light display from different angles. As the sun sets the backdrop of office buildings provide a canvas of many contrasts.

From Mountain to Metropolis - Excerpts from Pearl Exhibition

Click on Image to Enlarge

Do you enjoy hiking in Cleveland's Metroparks? Do you like to peruse art galleries that feature local scenes?

This month you can do both at the North Chagrin Reservation. My solo exhibition "From Mountains to Metropolis" will be on display in the Nature Center gallery through the end of May.

"Walking Through Big Meadow"

The forty framed works show interpretive views of Cleveland's skyline, the Flats, and scenes from America's parklands. The show is free to the public and open daily from 9:30 A.M. to 5 PM. in the Nature Center adjacent to Sunset Pond. The park is accessible via the SOM Center Road entrance in Willoughby Hills.

Stuart Pearl in Sunset Pond Nature Center, N. Chagrin Reservation

"View From 42nd & Czar"

These photographs represent nearly four years of work and cover the beginning of my entry into digital photography in 2006.

"Wood Near McCauley Pond" - Shot while on vacation in the Adirondacks.

"Nowhere to Roll"

I 've seriously pursued the craft since 1969. However, my efforts from that period through this decade involved only 35mm and medium format film. With this body of work, I've digitally tried to capture familiar landmarks in a way that creates a unique viewpoint for the observer.


"Morning At Columbus Road"


"Rusted Vines Snowy Tents" Across from Settlers Landing in the Flats

"Timken Wheel and Friends"

"Marketable Sunset" End of the day at the West Side Market.

Butler Museum Accepts Flats Work

© Stuart Pearl 2010 (Click Image to Enlarge)

Each year Youngstown's Butler Institute of American Art holds its Midyear Show. This juried competition is open to artists nationwide. I was again fortunate to have one of my photographs accepted for display in the 2010 show. The opening is Sunday June 27.

"A Rust Rose Dawn" shows the Cleveland skyline shortly after sunrise on a December morning. The Norfolk & Western railway bridge can be seen at the bottom.

View of the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge & Cleveland skyline

Heights normally terrify me. It takes a supreme act of courage for me to clean roof gutters. The Butler image was made with no less terror, from I-90's Inner Belt bridge 274 feet above the chilly Cuyahoga.

There is a very narrow metal sidewalk that separates pedestrians from roaring traffic and a cold swim. The guard rails are way to "open" for my tastes. I was able to get this shot by walking the length of the bridge, starting at the West 14th St. ramp.

I have walked this bridge a couple of times now looking for different vantage points and variations in lighting. To my shock I discovered there are others even more daring than myself. The picture above was taken during warmer times but it shows that bike riders use the interstate bridge to cross the Cuyahoga also.

There was no place to go when this lone rider came pedalling up the sidewalk. I just thought "thin" and became one with the railing. He rolled right by as if he does this everyday. That could be very likely true. Plans are underway for construction of the new Inner Belt bridge. Many have suggested a more user-friendly walkway. I can certainly understand why.Allied Corporation property on the West Bank

Views from the bridge are often unique with dramatic clouds and wonderful lighting. This panorama of the Allied operation shows gravel piles on the west bank ready for road work and other construction projects.

"The Three Roofers" Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

This early morning Tremont picture was shot during the summer as roofers repaired a church roof. It shows there is always something going on.

The city constantly changes for my lens. It's just a matter of being alert to new opportunities. The same Cleveland landmark will reveal a different face from season to season as well as from dawn to dusk. Some of these pictures end up as simple snapshots recording the ongoing history. Other images may achieve the status of "artwork," rendering an interpretation that is unique in it's composition. Hopefully all will be enjoyed.

Old Bones on Lake Erie: Cleveland's Coast Guard Station

© Stuart Pearl 2010 (Click Image to Enlarge)

It first appears as a small white art decco shape with graceful curves sitting at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. It has a beautiful tower and swept back walls leading to boat doors and dock facilities.

This is the Cleveland Coast Guard Station. It was designed by architect J. Milton Dyer and finished in 1940. It's construction replaced the government's Life Saving Service which had been previously housed in a smaller Cleveland facility.

I've seen the old station from a distance for years. I had always assumed access was only possible by boat. But this past winter I finally discovered the path to the old station by way of a nice hike through Wendy Park.

Today's empty shell stands in stark contrast to the beautiful property shown in this government photo from the 1950's.

Wendy Park is only a few years old, one of Cleveland's newer recreation areas. The land was purchased by Cuhahoga County in 2004.

It's a bit desolate during the winter but still is a favorite walk for dog owners and others out for some cold weather exercise. It offers some great views of the skyline, waterfront and of course the Coast Guard Station.

To get to this area it's a convoluted trip via the West Shoreway to Edgewater Park, with a further trek down the road to the Whisky Island marina. Once through the main gate you park in the lot an then start hiking.

I prefer the waterfront side north of the volleyball court as it provides distant panorama's of the Coast Guard Station. You eventually top a hill and come down to the old access road flanking the west bank of the Cuyahoga River just north of the railroad bridge.

The city of Cleveland now owns the station, having purchased it in 2004 for $1. Some stabilization of the structures was started last May with debris being removed and paint being added.


Restoration of the roof has also begun with some new support structure visible. The unique architecture strikes me as a combination of Adobe and Decco, with the tower being the most prominent feature visible. I would love to see light blazing from its crown some time in the future.

Boat storage building

Cleveland's skyline is visible from the old boat docks.



With the partial restoration of the station interest has been growing in the park and this area. Others continue to document the region's history in an effort to build enthusiasm for increased public use and recreation.

Christopher Busta-Peck, MLIS, and Christine Borne, MLIS edit Cleveland Area History. It's goal is to raise awareness of history in Cleveland and northeast Ohio. They have some interesting links as well as more photo galleries of the station.

To see more images of Cleveland's skyline and industrial flats visit Stuart Pearl's fine art galleries.