I added one this year. I got a double hook pole plant hanger and bought 2 hex platform feeders that have plastic inserts. On one side, I put old fruit - banana is quite popular.

On the other, I have water and the tray is filled with rocks and small pieces of broken concrete. Lotsa insects enjoy it - particularly the fruit, but also the water since it has not rained in ages and has been HOT.

Also, If you put any rock, small garden statuary such as a turtle, brick, etc. that will soak up the water and allow a place to perch the insects will love you for it. All birdbaths need a stone or piece of decorative pottery to increase the use of the birdbath.

Many times the birdbaths we buy are more decorative than useful to the birds. They are either too small, too deep or the material they are made of or the color they are glazed with make them too hot for the birds to stand on. Any birdbath that will get hot from the suns rays should be placed in the shade.

I keep a five gallon bucket half full of sugar water for the bees but it is important to put a small tree limb or wooden stick into it so they can climb on it if they fall in the water. They use it all summer and when I am out cleaning it they fly up to me and hover around me. I just ignore them and have never been stung by one of my hungry visitors.

It is also important at this hot and dry time of year to leave trays of water on the ground for frogs and lizards. These need to be situated in the shade as well. If you approach these ground water areas during the day you will see toads around and in them. Any type of tray will do, but if you are going to nestle it among ferns and want it to be pleasing to the eye, the tray from an unused birdbath is perfect.

During this time of year I have to water my garden in order to maintain it. Once I am through with that chore for the evening I set the hose nozzle on mist and aim it slanting upwards. Soon dragonflies are darting in and out of the fine mist and then will land on wet rocks nearby. What a treat to end a monotonous chore with a dozen or more glistening 'snake doctors' dancing in and out of the misty rainbow.

Great information and thanks for sharing.

Excellent information. I first learned about "watering the bees" at our local beekeeping association meetings. I use the large trays from terra cotta pots. I add pebbles but (since I am surrounded by pine trees) also have a few pieces of pine straw floating on the water surface. One of the speakers at a bee meeting told us how he had watched a bee save itself from drowning by climbing onto a piece of pine straw.

One note about mosquitoes that I learned from our Mosquito Control Officer. Certain types of mosquito eggs will adhere to the (inside) sides of the container. The eggs can sit there after the water evaporates or is dumped out - the eggs can still be viable for up to 8 months - all they need is for the container to be refilled with water. It's always best to scrub at least the sides of the container to eliminate the mosquito eggs - and the eggs stick like glue!! I use one of the green scrubby pads (no soap or chemicals) and keep it attached to a nearby tree branch with a clothes pin.

greene said:Excellent information. I first learned about "watering the bees" at our local beekeeping association meetings. I use the large trays from terra cotta pots. I add pebbles but (since I am surrounded by pine trees) also have a few pieces of pine straw floating on the water surface. One of the speakers at a bee meeting told us how he had watched a bee save itself from drowning by climbing onto a piece of pine straw.

One note about mosquitoes that I learned from our Mosquito Control Officer. Certain types of mosquito eggs will adhere to the (inside) sides of the container. The eggs can sit there after the water evaporates or is dumped out - the eggs can still be viable for up to 8 months - all they need is for the container to be refilled with water. It's always best to scrub at least the sides of the container to eliminate the mosquito eggs - and the eggs stick like glue!! I use one of the green scrubby pads (no soap or chemicals) and keep it attached to a nearby tree branch with a clothes pin.

Hmm very interesting! I didn't know this about mosquito eggs...Great tip for handy clean up too

We all learn from each other; that's the beauty of this site.

I too provide a water tray for toads. I have an unglazed toad hose that I place in shade under a lilac. I usually have to place the toads inside, but I have had them stay for over a week.

And I water so much around here - every day - deck twice daily - that I have dozens of dragonflys here every day.

Water is used to dissolve crystallized honey, to dilute honey when producing larval food, for evaporation cooling during warm weather, and for a cool drink on a hot day.

NancyKVB said: Water is used to dissolve crystallized honey, to dilute honey when producing larval food, for evaporation cooling during warm weather, and for a cool drink on a hot day.

Wonderful! So there's much more to always keep learning about. Thanks for sharing that additional information Nancy

Thank you all for this very informative site. I have a cement frog I keep to one side of my birdbath, so the larger birds have more room, and I also lay a branch across for smaller birds to land on. The bath in the backyard I'm now going to put pebbles in for the bees, making sure to keep it clean!