Splish splash, they'll be taking a bath...

Every summer I wander around and photograph the various birdbaths we have in our yard.

2008's post is here; 2011's post is here.

(Excuse the yard photos - we haven't put down new bark mulch yet, which the yard desperately needs. We'll see if the budget allows for some later this summer.)

There used to be 3 birds on this one. Over the years, two of the birds fell off and were probably raked up with leaves in the fall and tossed out by mistake. So now, this one little fellow sits and waits for friends to come and set for a spell...

He used to hang from an oak tree branch next to our deck. Sadly, we lost that branch in last October's freak snowstorm, so this year he's been moved to the patio.

This waterfall fountain sits on the patio. It gets a lot of squirrel and chipmunk action.

The squirrels and chipmunks also love this small gazing ball birdbath that sits next to the swing set deck.

The finish on this birdbath has become mottled and has taken on a greenish tint, even though the water is clear.

It sits in the backyard between the gate and the garden angel.

These three little cherubs patiently say their prayers while waiting for the birds to come pay them a visit.

This little birdbath hangs from the cherry tree in the backyard.

Another little bird is perched on the rim of this small mosaic birdbath.

This bath sits in "the secret garden," an unkempt, overgrown area next to our backyard shed. The birds really enjoy this bath, probably because it is so private.

This fountain birdbath sits on the deck. It seems a Japanese Beetle is enjoying the water bubbling out of the top and running down the sides.

This is the heated birdbath, attached to the deck railing by the backyard. In the wintertime it gets plugged in and moved to a part of the deck visible from the dining room window.

If the birds were voting for their #1 birdbaths, all of the following would tie for first place. This is just a large green plastic saucer/drip tray from an oversized pot. It's deep and wide, and the birds love to bathe and splash around in it. This one sits in the front yard under one of our hoppa crab apple trees...

...but we have another in the backyard, next to the girls' old tree house (now the gnome home).

Our cement pedestal birdbath developed a crack a few years ago. We've 'patched' it and it has held water temporarily, but for the last two years I've just placed a large, inexpensive "chip" bowl from the Christmas Tree shop in the basin. And the birds l-o-v-e it.

In fact, the birds love these large baths so much that I stocked up last year (I think they were $1 or $2 each at CTS)...

... and I've put them all over the backyard.

 This one sits between Mary and garden bunny, next to the shed (and you can just make out the base of the "secret garden" birdbath in the background!)...

Another sits on top of this tree stump. (We salvaged this large piece of the trunk from the huge, gorgeous maple tree that we lost, another casualty of last October's snowstorm.)

And the last one sits on an old metal table in the front yard under the window box by the garden gate.

I hope you're all enjoying lovely weather. It's been gorgeous here in the Northeast!

I'm linking up to the Cottage Garden Party at the beautiful Fishtail Cottage
and to Show & Tell Friday at the lovely My Romantic Home.

Donna