Flushing the Fountain

I have a small, self-contained fountain from Home Depot. It used to sit in my sunroom, but I moved it out in preparation for renovations last summer. I set it out on a corner of the deck and decided I liked it there better. However, I discovered that keeping a fountain outside involves more maintenance than inside. Even though the fountain is in the shade, algal growth eventually clogs the water line and the result is a sad dribbling fountain:


Two or three times during the summer, I clean out the line using three common household items (1) hot water, (2) vinegar, and (3) a turkey baster. (I might add that I originally tried to unplug the line with wire, but that was ineffective.)

I remove the hose (and attached mouthpiece) from the fountain and bring it inside. Using the turkey baster, I force a mixture of hot water and vinegar through the line. It takes a few flushings, but, eventually, clots of slimy algae are pushed out the house. I finish with multiple hot water rinses, until I’m sure the line is clear. Then, I reassemble the fountain and plug it back in.



When I’m ready to put the fountain away for the season, I’ll clean the pump itself, but just clearing the line gets me through the summer.

Pink Canna

When I read Mrs. Greenthumbs, she insisted that all daylilies are orange, no matter the advances in breeding or the pretty catalog pictures. I believed her then, but I’ve since found daylilies in shades without a bit of orange in them. (Not that I have anything against orange. I adore the color.) When I found pink cannas for sale, I was a little more willing to believe that the pictured pink flower was true to life. If daylilies can be lavender, can’t a canna be pink?

You can judge for yourself. It is definitely more orange than the package picture, but you could call it pink. Perhaps “salmon” would be a more accurate description. Not that I mind – I love orange.

City of Portland Canna