As mentioned earlier, the flanking copper pieces with the curlicues aren't purely decorative. They're also functional. Their function is to hold the central pipe (the pipe for the plumbing) in place. To accomplish this, the flanking copper pieces will be secured in the ground; then the central pipe will be joined to them, using copper wire.
But how are the flanking pieces secured in the ground? Well, I shoved a metal rod into the bottoms of each of the two pieces, then pushed down on each rod until it had penetrated several inches into the earth. But first there's the matter of how to anchor a rod inside a copper tube. To do this, bend the tip of the rod in a vise first (and/or use pliers), forming a hook. Adjust as necessary, until the hook is just the right size to "catch" inside the tube. This hook can't be too big or too small. The idea is to wedge it several inches inside the tube. Strive for a tight fit. The longer the rod you're using, the better.
Can't find metal rods anywhere? Improvise! For instance, using heavy-duty wire-cutters, cut away a length of rod from a tomato cage. The malleability of the rods you choose may be less than ideal, so it may be hard to form the aforementioned "hook" on them. If so, in lieu of the hook, wrap duct tape tightly around the tip of the rod, building up its diameter until it's slightly less than that of the tube.
On Page 9 we'll see how the flanking pieces are used to stabilize the central pipe....
