gardening
Story by Pat Rubin Photos by Fred Greaves
with a DIY birdbath Invite the birds for a drink
Most mornings, I take my tea onto the back deck so I can watch the goldfinches playing in the birdbath. A family of young robins comes by to splash in the water and have a drink. I’ve also seen common house finches, rufous-sided towhees, doves and more. My birdbath is homemade of hypertufa, which is a combination of Portland cement, sand and peat moss or vermiculite. Both work equally well. The idea is to have a finished product that is lighter than cement alone and that has a natural, rustic look. Inspi rat ion for the project came f rom an old gardening book in which the author likened making the birdbath to childhood days playing in the mud. His original plans called for a base and a pedestal, but most bird experts say birdbaths work best when placed near the ground.
Once you have all the materials together, the project takes less than two hours to complete. The birdbath requires an additional two to three weeks to cure and harden, but after that it will be open for business. A wheelbarrow or 5-gallon bucket works best for mixing the ingredients. Wear rubber gloves when working with Portland cement—it can irritate your skin—and a dust mask to protect your nose and lungs. Before we start, here’s an easy alternative to making your own form for the birdbath: You can use a cardboard box or a plastic bin, and then a pie plate or something to make the impression for holding water. If you choose this route, go directly to step 3.
Pat Rubin cbmagazine@californiabountiful.com
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