I already had an idea in my head and I knew exactly how to go about it. I even had everything I needed!
First things first, I needed to remove the original wooden table from the post. Crikey, it had rotted beyond repair! The bird feeders which were (somehow) hanging from the underneath, were moved to a tree and are still happily being used!
I thought it best to treat the post to prevent it from rotting, like the table...
Whilst the post was drying, I begun the making of my idea!
I had a small shallow trug and a hanging basket of a similar size.
Removing the chain then with a large mallet, I hammered the base of the hanging basket so it was flat, and the same diameter as the trug.
It was a pleasant sunny day on Sunday, so the top of the post dried incredibly quickly.
Using a regular hammer this time, and 4 large wood staples, the basket was hammered to the top of the post.
Lovely!
With the basket and trug in place, I needed a layer of something at the bottom of the trug for the birds to perch on as they bathed.
Shells were awkward and had sharp edges on which the birds might damage or injure themselves.
However beautiful shells may be, they are not practical for a birdbath. Fortunately, there were plenty of pebbles lying around the garden for me to use!
That's better!
It's hard to tell from the picture but the pebbles are positioned to make a slope. This ensures birds of all sizes are able to bathe at a depth comfortable to them.
I enjoy hearing idea's from other people. My mum suggested putting a stick in, to create a more natural 'puddle'. So in went a stick along with the water!
It also makes a lovely perching post!
Realising how bare and very strange looking this birdbath appeared, it needed something a little more organic. Like a water plant which acts a bit like ivy...
Ah! That will do!
That will twist and weave through the hanging basket in no time!
