Today, as I was going through folders of photos I took through the spring and summer months, I came upon this cheap and cheerful water feature my friend Barry devised for his garden. It looked so classy, yet was unbearably simple and didn’t cost a thing.
All he did was take three terracotta saucers of varying sizes and stack them into one another. He set overturned plastic saucers underneath the top two layers to give them height. Brilliant!
The water feature did encourage a lot of wasps to a warm and dry part of the garden, which may not be your thing, but it turned out to be a simple and stylish way to encourage and keep these beneficials doing their work in the garden. No one has ever been stung.
This seems like a good way to cultivate mosquitoes, too.
Good point, but would depend on location and time of year.
Was never an issue with these. Perhaps the presence of so many wasps? Hopefully Barry will comment and say how often he changed the water because that would help, too.
I think changing the water daily (if no rain) might help with the mosquito issue.
Too bad I’m such a wasp-phobe! It’s very simple and cute.
i prop mine up with spare clay pot feet for just a little more height too. and changing the water out daily (here in IL) worked just fine for me for keeping bugs away!
What a good idea. I’ve been wanting a water feature in addition to my birdbath and this just might work. I do think changing the water daily would be a necessity, just as it is with the bird bath. And I believe I would also add some height between the layers somehow. Hmmm…needs to be in just the right spot,too.
I Likeeee. Gonna copy. Beneficial bugs are awesome.
I have several of the large bottoms sitting around my yard through the summer. I fill them daily. (in August 100 plus temperatures they go dry in less than 24 hours) I have birds fight over bathing privileges in these things when they totally ignore the expensive raised bird baths placed specifically for their pleasure. Dragonflies, wasps, bees, butterflies, squirrels and bunnies drink from them.
I started this after finding a baby bunny trapped (alive and terrified) in my pool drain. It occurred to me that there was a need for low access water spots.
I wasn’t going for decorative, but I may have to try the stacking thing. I like!
This is such a simple but wonderful idea. I like to gather colorful saucers and deep vintage dishes at garage sales for a whimsy way for birds, butterflies and bees to all enjoy a drink.