STYLE : The Watering Spot

While birdbaths are no doubt appreciated by our feathered friends, especially during the drought, they are not entirely for the birds. They are also one of quickest ways to bring focus to a garden. In sprawling classical gardens, a fountain often gave the eye a place to settle. In today’s smaller gardens, a birdbath does the trick.

You can find dozens of birdbaths at many full-service nurseries, including the Palos Verdes Begonia Farm in Torrance, where they are scattered among the plants for sale. There are architectural designs featuring Romanesque columns, ‘50s styles with turquoise-colored basins and whimsical forms that look like tree trunks (some with squirrels attached). Most are ceramic or made of concrete. Birds are willing to bathe in puddles, so they won’t squawk about slightly dirty water, but leaves and algae should be removed with a blast from the garden hose.

When selecting a birdbath, do keep the birds in mind. They need sure footing and a thick, rounded edge to perch on. And when positioning a birdbath, choose sun or shade, but avoid plantings where a cat might hide. Nearby trees give birds a secure place from which they can first scrutinize the terrain.