MOSAIC BIRD PUDDLER

A  creative group of gardeners got a jump on spring by making their own Mosaic Bird Puddlers. Birds love these because they can stand in the water to bathe and then preen on the edge. Because they are relatively shallow, they can easily be refreshed and kept clean. 

First moist sand was shaped into a hump mold into which pieces of tile, glass marbles and broken china were pressed. Note that the reverse side of these pieces is facing up. 

A layer of concrete was pressed over the sand and mosaic pieces ...

followed by a final layer of hyptertufa. After curing for a week, the pieces are inverted, the sand removed and brushed away. The final step is to situate the puddler in the garden, preferably near a window so the bird's antics can be easily viewed. Want to make your own? Take a Creative Workshop or Hypertufa studio this summer. More info: peaceinmygarden.com