Birdbaths as Garden Art

Birdbaths are one of the easiest ways to add objects and ornamentation to your garden. And, they have the double benefit of helping wildlife. Like other kinds of garden art, birdbaths add a focal point to garden beds, giving the eye a place to rest amid the foliage and flowers.

Even when birds are not present, light reflects off the water, adding a twinkle to the garden. When birds are present, the bath gives your garden life — sounds of chirping and splashing water, the water spraying up around the birds and the color of the birds themselves. In my former garden, I had a deep blue birdbath that a red cardinal visited frequently — a great color contrast no matter how fleeting it was.

Birdbaths come in a variety of sizes, heights, colors and styles, which makes them one of the most flexible types of garden art. Price points vary as well, from $10 at a yard sale to several hundred for a truly unique birdbath. Glazed ceramic and rough cement pottery are among the most common materials for birdbaths. Colored or plain, they become real garden art when nestled amid plants.

Maintaining a birdbath is relatively easy. I like to refill it just about every time I’m watering the garden. I empty the old water out, then give A sharp spray from the hose to knock off some of the gunk, then a gentle drizzle to refill the bath with fresh water. It’s good to regularly clean the bath using bleach.

While I like water and bids in my birdbaths, some gardeners will plant them out with succulents or create a cute fairy garden in a birdbath. Do you have a favorite style of birdbath?