Hand Operated Spigots

• Before electricity was used to draw water from wells, metal hand-operated spigots provided the daily water needs for families. An old-fashioned, hand pump spring would work perfectly in a country-style garden. You can fit a hose through the pump to feed the water for your feature. An electric water pump is needed to circulate the water through the old-fashioned pump. You'll also need to provide some type of container to catch the water as it flows out of the pump. You can reclaim an authentic pump mechanism from some old properties, purchase them from vendors at flea markets or find replicas at many garden supply retailers.
  
  

Fishing Pond

• Create the scene of a relaxing day spent fishing by the pond with this country water feature. You can install any size pond you wish, from small ponds stocked with koi fish to large ponds stocked with real bass and sunfish. Set the scene by placing a wooden bench near the pond where you can sit to enjoy your water feature. Place a few frog garden statues and fake cattails around the pond. You can make a full-scale fishing pole from a stick and some string to set next to the pond with a bait pocket. For small koi ponds, the accessories should be scaled down to size. Check your garden center for a statue of a boy or girl with a fishing pole. You can set these up next to the pond to make it look as though the kids are fishing.
  
  

Whiskey Barrels

• Whiskey barrels are traditionally used to store and age whiskey, but they were also used in the past as a way to collect rainwater. Many homes had large barrels under a downspout next to their homes and used the water to clean their hands and faces before entering the house. You can pay tribute to this practice in a country-style garden by using full or half whiskey barrels to catch water from a spigot. Another idea is to incorporate several whiskey barrels into a single water feature. You can have one barrel turned over and feed water through to make it look like the barrel is spilling its contents. Place a second below the dumped barrel to catch the flow. A third barrel could be placed below the second barrel to catch the overflow. If you want to make it appear as though whiskey or other spirits are spilling from the barrel, place a few ceramic jugs around.
  
  

Washbasins

• Before the invention of washing machines, people used washbasins to hand-wash their clothes. These basins are often used in country landscapes for everything from planters to water features. New metal washbasins are galvanized to prevent rust, but if you have a very old one, it may have holes in it. The naturally worn holes coordinate well with the rustic country look, but the basin won't function well for holding water. Lining them with plastic tubs will make them functional so you can keep the rugged look. You can use an old metal washbasin as a koi pond or install a fountain feature to spray water. If you use a clothesline to dry your clothes, the washbasin water feature would work well installed nearby. Find an old washboard to stick in the basin and rig the water to run down the washboard into the basin.