I have been meaning to show you this repurposed succulent birdbath planter for quite some time, but I had to wait until the succulents started greening up and growing this spring.
I started this project last spring but I never got around to posting about it. In this photo, you can see a birdbath that used to sit in front of the arbor that's in the flower bed in front of our garden. The birdbath got moved when we started constructing our DIY GARDEN WATERFALL.
It was placed here in the garden in the spot where we were also working on our DIY FREESTANDING DECK. That heavy thing got moved around several times while we were doing all that work last year, and it was during that time that I discovered that the basin of the birdbath has a leak.
After I stained these picket fence panels that we put up at each end of our deck, I decided to stain the concrete birdbath. At this point, I was thinking that I could repair the leak by putting some broken blue and white china pieces in the basin. Wouldn't that be pretty with the blue birdbath?
Well, that project never got done so we moved the blue birdbath to this corner of our garden where the outdoor sink is located. By the way, the solid color outdoor wood stain has held up beautifully on the fence panels as well as the concrete birdbath so if you ever want to change the color of a birdbath, just paint it with some solid color wood stain!
Since I already had a lot of succulent plants, I decided to create a succulent birdbath planter. I mounded up a mixture of regular potting soil and builder's sand, but you can also use potting soil that is designed to be used with succulents.
I planted the birdbath with a variety of succulents so that I would have a mix of colors and textures. You can see an ice plant blooming in this photo. My sister-in-law Jean gave me some of her baby hens and chicks, and I purchased some sedums that I knew would spread quickly.
A few of the succulents and the ice plants were placed near the edge so that they would grow over the edge of the planter.
And the succulents grew over the summer and were quite happy in the birdbath planter. Beside the birdbath, I planted a honeysuckle vine called "Major Wheeler" and a creeping fig. I had big plan for planting more flowers and shrubs in this corner, but that just didn't happen. And unfortunately, the creeping fig did not make it through the winter but most of the succulents did.
Look at that honeysuckle vine now!!! It has been loaded with blooms like this for several weeks.
This little corner is coming to life with the succulent birdbath planter with the honeysuckle vine beside it.
Just need to get these pots hanging above the birdbath potted up with something that will take the heat.
The word GROW is still hanging in this corner. I don't think I've ever really shared a tutorial on how I made that but if you're interested, I can certainly do a quick post on that.
Yesterday I did replace a few of the succulents with some fresh ones like this one you see above, and I have big plans for getting this corner in tip top shape. I hope you're enjoying some beautiful spring weather where you are located. The All Things Creative Team and I will be back on Tuesday with more ideas for container planting. In the meantime, if you'd like to see more garden containers that I've created.
And if someone doesn't know what to do with a leaky birdbath, you can help them by taking it off their hands!!!
Karen Goode
Hi, Jane
Love your succulent birdbath. Think I'll make one in my cracked birdbath, too. Here in Oregon, succulents won't survive the winter so I'll just use sedums and maybe add a small fern or two for some height. Your little corner looks so cozy! Blessings, Karen
Brenta Joy
I like your succulent bird bath. I do have another inquiry. I was drawn to your blog because of a 2013 post on red drift roses. I planted some last year and they did ok. There were in a bit of shade so I moved to a sunny spot very much like your garden. They have buds. How long before I have those profuse blooms like in your pics? Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Brenta
Jane Windham
Brenda, I think you'll find that you'll have many more blooms on your plants since you've moved them to a sunny location. I usually fertilize them in early spring but I didn't get around to that this year so I'm waiting to see how they will bloom this year. I hope you get many blooms on yours this year!
Brenta Joy
Hello Jane, I wanted to report that the red drift roses that I have are in bloom and are beautiful. Your bird birth has prompted me to plant some succulents. One day I hope to share some pics.
Jane Windham
So happy to hear that you have plenty of blooms this year! Mine are loaded, too!
Dawn
Love it Jane does it do well in full sun?
Jane Windham
Dawn, the birdbath is in full sun for most of the day but it does get a bit of shade late in the afternoon. As long as I have watered them when it was 90 or above, they seemed to do fine. I think getting a break from the hot sun late in the day helps!
Jean Windham
Jane, the birdbath shows up nicely in the photos. I am in love with the blue paint. The vine looks pretty next to the birdbath. Jean
Jane Windham
Thank you, Jean. I know you love that shade of blue!
AnnMarie
What a great idea! I have a large birdbath in my garden that needs something!! You just showed me what that is. Our weather is not warm enough for planting yet but I am putting the idea in my garden journal.. Thank you!
Jane Windham
I'm so happy that you found an idea you could use, AnnMarie!
Debbie
So pretty. I love the grow sign, too, and would love a tutorial!
Jane Windham
I'll work on that soon, Debbie!
BethesdaBec
What growing zone are you in? We live in north central Arkansas, where succulents like these would not make it through the winter. Do you have a suggestion for other plants that would grow in a birdbath like this, but not have to replaced each spring? For obvious reasons, it wouldn't be feasible to bring it indoors each fall. Thanks
Jane Windham
We are in hardiness zone 8, and it appears that you are in zone 7 which means your night time winter temps get a little lower than ours. I'm sending you a link to a list of hardy succulents that should do well in your area. We had a mild winter this year but I did put a heavy beach towel over my succulents a few nights when we were expecting a hard freeze.
Dianne Stewart
Perfect!!!! And I love the honeysuckle!!
Jane Windham
Me too, Dianne! I think I'm going to plant 2 of the same honeysuckles around the front door. I have my eye on an arched support that I can train it on.
Nancie
What a great idea! Your honeysuckle vine is gorgeous! I'm going to go buy one for my garden. Do they come in different colors?
Jane Windham
Honeysuckles do come in different colors, Nancie. But I've only seen the "Major Wheeler" one that I have in the coral red color. I planted several 2 years ago, and they have really taken off this spring. I'll show more of them soon.
mary
Beautiful Jane! I love your birdbath repurposed as a planter! I feel the need to go sedum shopping 😉
Jane Windham
I love sedums too, Mary! I've even put them in hanging baskets.