Garden Art From the Thrift Store: Make a Glassware Bird Bath

Thrift store shelves are full of glass bowls, vases, candlesticks and serving platters that sell for a dollar or two each. Stacked and glued together, they make cheerful garden art, and with a wide, shallow dish on top they become a bird bath that catches the light and brings birds into view.

What you need

Look for one wide, shallow dish or platter for the basin, ideally 12 inches or more across. For the pedestal, choose sturdy pieces that stack well, such as a tall vase, an upside-down bowl and a candlestick. Thick, heavy glass is better than thin. You will also need an adhesive made for glass and outdoor use, such as a clear outdoor silicone or a two-part epoxy, plus rubbing alcohol and a clean cloth.

Choose glass that is safe for birds

Skip lead crystal, which is heavy and often marked as crystal on the bottom, for any piece that will hold drinking water. Plain glass, pressed glass and colored glass are fine. Avoid pieces with chips or cracks, which can collect dirt or break in the cold.

Build the stack

Wash every piece in hot, soapy water, then wipe the surfaces you will glue with rubbing alcohol so the adhesive grips. Dry-fit the stack first and stand back to check the shape and balance. Glue the pedestal one joint at a time, starting at the bottom, and keep each joint level. Let the adhesive cure for as long as the label says, often a full day or more, before adding the dish on top and letting that joint cure too.

Make it comfortable for birds

Birds prefer shallow water. Aim for no more than an inch or two at the deepest point, with a gentle slope at the edges. Because glass is slippery, set a few flat stones or a layer of pebbles in the dish so birds have secure footing.

Placing and caring for it

Set the bird bath on firm, level ground, out of the way of foot traffic. A spot within about 10 feet of shrubs gives birds a place to escape, but keep it clear of hiding places where cats can lie in wait. Refresh the water every few days and scrub the dish regularly, which keeps it clean and stops mosquitoes from breeding.

Bring it in before a freeze

Glass can crack when water freezes in it. In cold climates, empty the bird bath and store it in a shed or garage for the winter, then set it back out in spring, when birds will be glad to see it again.

Photo: Green glassware by holly from Asheville, NC, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.