For the first time I saw a bird (noisy miner) visiting the birdbath today. At first he was just drinking, then he took the plunge in the deep side of the pool and flapped for all he was worth. He flew away and came back a few times. At least once his friend/rival joined him either to claim supremacy or just to take a look.
Not sure if painting it brown helped but it certainly looks better. I suspect more birds will start discovering the pool since we’re having a heat wave. (Afternoon update! More birds have been visiting the birdbath today: a kookaburra and a currawong plus more noisy miners. Horray – it’s been discovered!)
I’ve planted a few creeping fig plants (ficus pimula) around the base. They are pretty slow growing (okay, they are reportedly fast growing but I guess I’m not that patient) but in a couple of years the log base should start to be covered in vines.
The grass is suffering around the birdbath and veggie bed. We’ve started watering it and we’re trying to vary our footpath but since both Frank and I visit the garden a couple of times a day (not to mention when he’s doing building works) the grass is showing the strain. If only we’d get some reasonable rain I’m sure it would perk up.
The bee box in the background has a few more log homes but, as yet, no one has taken up residence.
Laura Rittenhouse's Gardening Journal 