Have you noticed that when visiting a garden or even wandering through your own, what jumps out at you are the flaws? Like the errant piece of trash or the one weed in an expanse of groundcover? I’d like to think that I notice them not because they’re flaws but because they’re different from the background against which I’m seeing them.
But okay, in the case of my bird bath planter, it’s just a flaw, one that was getting worse every time I looked at it (seemingly).
How it works: an inner pole works like an augur, which is then covered with a painted PVC wrapper.
At first, I loved my new bird bath, and proclaimed it ready for birds. But the birds didn’t come, and it was a hassle to rise out frequently enough to prevent mosquitoes. So I turned it into a planter.
With a trailing sedum and a native grass I’ve forgotten the name of, it was a container I wouldn’t have to water very often. So it was perfect…until gravity revealed my very bad auguring job, causing the inevitable lean.
The solution? Cement! And a call to my handyman.
Now I love my little nook again. I can enjoy the simple design, the contrasting foliage colors and definitely the drought-tolerant plants, without that nagging “Damn, I’m bad at auguring!” that was poisoning my enjoyment of the view.
(Other plants seen here are two ninebark shrubs, Sedum takesimense, and a rebloom or two of crossvine on the right.)
Do flaws jump out at you, too?
I hope it’s not just me.
Being a little different is not necessarily a bad thing. Some of us are perfectionists and want precision. Others appreciate when some thing is a little off. It adds charm.
Yes, I see them right away. Not because I’m looking for them, but because I’m looking at a scene in detail, and that’s an (unintentional) detail! Those ninebark are lovely, btw, are they a named cultivar or straight species? They look to be about three years old – ? I’m interested because we’ll be ordering some next spring!
My records may be failing me. They include labels for ‘Summer Wine’ and ‘Diablo,” but I can’t swear this is either one. Seems too short.
It’s a well-known fact that gardeners cannot venture into their garden without pulling a weed or other plant that doesn’t belong.
I feel seen.
Yes, we do focus on the imperfections and sometimes need to be reminded by others that the overall picture is charming. As your garden is! Btw, as you probably know, birds much prefer a shallow basin and one that isn’t slippery plus they like some shrubbery or safe areas nearby that they can escape to, if a predator appears. So I’m not surprised that your birdbath works better as a planter. If you do decide to try another bird bath, try putting a few pretty stones in it and siting it with shrubs nearby. Bet you get some bathers and drinkers then.
That’s so funny. When my friend sees the quilt on my wall that she made, she only sees the flaws.
An inability to overlook flaws is certainly not limited to gardeners. I’m also a quilter and many quilters have a bad habit of pointing out every mistake in their projects when the average viewer would never notice them.
“Oh your yard is beautiful!”, they say. What? Don’t you see the empty spot over there where the rose died? And the pot over there where the thriller isn’t and the spiller won’t? And that area over there where everything is totally out of balance.
Why is it that I often see the flaws glaring out and can’t just enjoy the great? I paint a wall and know every spot that is out of line. Put in a paver walkway and can tell you every brick that is out of level. Plant 50 bulbs and get upset when only 47 come up. Is it OCD? Or does every gardener/craftsman/artist do the same thing? I am discovering, however, that the older I get, the less the flaws scream out. Or the less I care. Or the less energy I have to fix it. Whichever.
I need more of your attitude.
IMHO, ALL items in garden MUST be plumb/level! If your window could be a bird-viewing station, I recommend a birdbath dripper which attaches to outside faucet. And yes, a shallow bowl and some rocks. No mosquito problem. Nevertheless, it looks good as a planter, now that is plumb.
I can cope with flaws and flops, but things that are supposed to be level or plumb — and aren’t — drive me crazy. I sympathize. –MW