My new project for this fall and next spring is a birdbath garden. It will be a kidney shaped garden spot with the tree being on the right center of the kidney. The birdbath will be located on the back of the kidney curve on the left side. You can see their designated locations in the attached photo. I will be moving the hosta located on the backside of the tree and leaving the hosta on the front side of the tree. I may or may not relocate the removed hosta around to the left front side. I'm not to sure about that though, it doesn't seem right when I picture it in my head. I have planted 5 peonies around the back curve of the kidney up to the birdbath. Directly in front of the peonies on both sides of the birdbath I planted 'Purple Haze' Agastache. At the base of the birdbath I planted 4 NOID pink Amaryllis. I would like to make this spot for the birds as I have a hummingbird and butterfly garden on the other side of the house. I have two bird feeders in the tree and would like to keep the birds over here by the bird feeders. What other plants would you recommend planting in this area?



The first picture is looking directly from the street. This picture is looking from my driveway.

This is the newest pic...
starting from the back of the bed and moving to the front
red circles are peonies with different flowering times and colors
purple circles are agastache purple haze
yellow circles are various flowering bulbs with different flowering times
blue circle is creeping lantana
black circle is guara white one and cherry brandy together
green circles are the hosta that were on the back side of the tree that I moved to the front border of the bed

This is where I still need help.
The orange circles I would like something darker colored and tall around 4 ft or so
The grey circle I would like something that will fall/sprawl to go with the lantana

What do you think so far

Yes I will be getting a stand for the bath

oops forgot the pic

bump....

Very cool, Steph - how far did you get on your project?

I'm currently re-removing Bermuda grass from an area that I want to transplant my Echinaceas to - am finding this fall weather to be a great time to work on stuff.

P.S. I love your quote!

Thanks for the bump Sheila

Sheryl, I didn't get too much further. I did add 2 tall purple mexican petunias on the left side by the small orange circles. That's all I've added since my last post. I'm thinking I would like to add some purple millet on the right side where the larger orange circle is, but I can't find any right now. I think I'll have to wait till spring for it. I have to finish getting the edge stones also. That I can do over the next month or so. Do you have any other suggestions for plants to add?

I am curious, you said you put the hostas in the green circle positions? If I am seeing correctly that is in direct sunlight, will they be shaded from the sun at all?
As for as the plant to fall/sprawl...how about using fall asters? They don't draw many butterflies and have a dark foilage when not blooming. Or by dark did you mean the flower?

You saw right, the hostas are in sun. I know I'm pushing it with that. These hosta have been in full sun 80% of the day for the last two years. Surprisingly they have done very well. (keeping fingers crossed now) I'm not sure what it is I've done for them that makes them happy. If they start to fade then I will move them, but I thought with them being in the same general location with only a few feet difference then before they would do ok.
The dark I was wanting is the foliage, flowers of any color are ok. I hadn't thought about fall asters, that would give some interest there. I bet I could find some small ones on clearence right now too.

If you can't, I am sure I can share some with you if you want to come by. I have a big stand in the back that needs thinning.

Thanks for the generous offer. I'll let you know ok.

4' tall and dark - I start red hibiscus from seeds each year and they get at least 4' and probably more.... although they're probably perennial in your area? But nice, maple shaped leaves in dark red.

There's also a number of red colored Pennisetums - red fountain grass - and I think they also come in various heights. Might be a little wide for your area, though.

If you're into seed starting, Summerhill has a purple millet: http://summerhillseeds.com/mil...

Or.... chocolate Eupatorium???http://summerhillseeds.com/eupatorium-rugosum-chocolate-p-245.html?cPath=68

Whoa, I'm on a roll!

Stephanie,
I love having birdbaths all over and I love your idea of a birdbath garden!

I am far from Texas, so I'll wait for pictures :o)

Hi Sally Welcome

How many birdbaths do you have?

Sheryl, I didn't even think of starting millet seeds I'll have to get some LOVE the chocolate eupatorium. Haven't seen that before.

Five, no six. And I just bid on and got a beautiful small glass one with inlaid butterflies at a Church auction. Most are plastic. One is on the ground and I just loved it. It had tile in the bottom and the design was two goldfish. For some reason a swellling started in the bottom, pushing the tiles off :o(

My immediate thought was a garden with two or more birdbaths in the bed. But I love the plants you selected to surround yours.

The robins and sparrows actually prefer the one on the ground.

Hi Sally!

Steph, assuming the millet from bird food is the same type, I think those plants would be *very* easy to start from seed.

I have been thinking of putting a bird bath in the area where I'd like to group all of my higher-water plants - one will always remind me of the other. I want an "on the ground" one too..... hmmm. I tend to like non-traditional stuff, so I bet I can find something large and shallow and wing it .... ha!

Grin!

Beddy bye time for me. Have a good night everyone!

Just a thought.....
Birdbaths on the ground are great, but dangerous for the birds. Especially risky close to plants where cats can creep up unseen.

Great thought, Shelia, you're absolutely right.

Whether you see it as a good thing or bad, out here the cats are probably more vulnerable than the birds. We do get the occasional feral cat around (and I've brought in 2 drop off kittens,) but they don't last very long between my dogs, the coyotes and other predators.

Are there other animals that would prey on birds? I don't think my dogs would bother them other than making a mess of the water.

Shelia,
As far as I know the cats don't lay in wait there. Maybe because I'm outside so much. The robins use it before they use any other, so I leave it.

Sheryl,
We get the sparrow hawks sometimes, but not very often.

Speaking of robins. I started out making a small round butterfly bed. Yes, ahem, that's what DH thought anyway :o) It progressed like they all do.

It progressed like they all do.

And that would be.... beautifully?