Summer is here, and with it, the garden’s soul-satisfying abundance of luscious color, graceful and varied form, and delectable fragrance!
But whether the garden is a highly intensified development within a few square feet of space, or a leisurely, expansive series of plantings encompassing acres, perforce.
One fact remains true: the beauty of any garden can be enhanced by the presence of one or more bird baths.
Several good, eminently practical reasons exist for establishing bird baths in the garden.
For Attracting Birds To The Garden
For instance, water in summer and winter is as important as berry-bearing plants in attracting birds to the garden for the weed seeds and insects they eat — a benefit not to be underestimated in these days of ever-increasing numbers of insects.
And, too, water for both drinking and bathing is as necessary to the existence of birds as it is to human beings.
However, the garden is essentially a source of pleasure for the senses and refreshment for the spirit — especially in summer.
A Focal Point Of Interest
So, putting aside practical considerations for the moment, we arrive at what may be the best reason for setting up bird baths.
Nothing lends so charming and delightful a focal point of interest as birds’ sound, color, and activity about a pool of water when set against the lush greenery of one’s garden.
Bird baths need not be elaborate, limited to a particular type, or even restricted to any one part of the garden.
In fact, if a garden has an area given to alpines set about outcroppings of rock, its formal planting of beds and crosswalks, or a much-cherished wilderness retreat, so much the better.
Each may utilize a bird bath best suited to its atmosphere, thereby becoming heightened and enlivened.
Pleasant Accent For Birds
The rock garden may lead itself easily and effectively to tiers of shallow pools. These can be constructed of concrete laid by Barbara E]inore Hayden on a proper foundation and surrounded by various-sized field stones.
If the rock garden is part of the foundation planting of the house, narrow cement waterways bordered with stones may be laid from beneath an outside faucet to one or more pools for easy refilling.
This pleasant accent will bring many birds who will vie with time flowers for the brightness of color.
Pedestal Bird Bath
Most commonly seen, but not to be ruled out of consideration, is the pedestal bird bath, which can be used formally or informally. This can be purchased, but it is quite as effective and more fun to make it.
One which excellently stood our birds for a number of years was constructed, in the column portion, of small rocks and cement laid about a pipe core, anti to no particular design.
For time top, a wooden mold was constructed — in octagonal form for no other reason than the mathematical challenge to its maker!
Concrete was poured into this, and the basin part was shaped by hand, allowing for more depth toward the center to accommodate larger birds.
This top was held in place only by weight so that it could be turned over in winter to prevent ice from forming and cracking it.
Use Hammer And Chisel
A rocky outcropping, or ledge, about which drifts of low-growing alpines have been artfully planted, may be utilized through the effective application of hammer and chisel!
After carefully outlining the area which, when removed, will give the maximum indentation for the least amount of energy expended, interested persons can fall to in their stint with hammer and chisel.
A gouge from the rock deep enough to retain water for some time, yet not too deep for use, will offer an opportunity for the twofold sip or shower.
A woodsy area where brambles, wildflowers, and vines have been allowed to preserve a patch of wilderness is a perfect site for a bird bath.
Advantages of Tree Stump
This spot can use the natural haunt of many kinds of birds to take advantage of a tree stump with a concave face.
A fallen tree in time woods will provide an excellent stump. After a three-foot length has been seen off, it raises a man’s appetite!
The top surface should be chiseled to form a shallow basin but not smoothed to the extent it prevents good footing. Moved to the naturalistic spot, it will admirably serve the feathered clan.
Often natural conditions may be adapted for bird baths, as in the rock outcropping.
Another instance of this is treating a bothersome boulder or granite block, which is too large to cart away, yet decidedly does not contribute to your gardening scheme.
If it presents a slanted surface — facilitated, perhaps, by hammer and chisel — concrete and small stones can be used to build up a wall, or dam, at the lower level that will hold sufficient amounts of water to form a bird bath.
Thus can an intractable garden liability be turned into a highly pleasurable asset?
Simple And Inexpensive Bird Bath
A simple and inexpensive bird bath for a small garden may be made by affixing a shallow wooden salad or vegetable chopping bowl to a broomstick handle set deep into the ground.
Or a wooden tray built up at the sides on one end and attached at an angle to provide a varied water depth may be used.
If small, these may require frequent filling but will satisfy the birds’ summer thirsts and provide a cooling dip.
Elegant or ordinary, the bird baths you construct may be limited only by imagination, materials, tools, and energy, in their kinds and types.
Three Considerations
But three points bear consideration. First, it should not be too deep, and should, preferably, be slanted to suit birds large and small.
Second, the edges and floor surface should be reasonably rough to offer a firm footing for small claws.
And third, for easy cleaning with an old broom or scrub brush, the sides should be slanted.
The result will add to your garden the crowning touch of delight as birds charmingly indulge in ablution or libation.
Bird Bath
The gusto with which they splash in the water; the amusing seriousness of their intent performance; the comical appearance of birds, seemingly prostrate, sprawled in disarray in nearby sun spots to dry; or their stillness as they poise in lustrous plumage at the water’s edge — all provide entertaining and enlivening and beautiful scenes as a focal point, of interest in the garden.
A bird bath filled with water is a small token of exchange for such superb living portraits as these!
44659 by Barbara Elinore Hayden