Pollinators need water to stay hydrated just like humans. In fact, one hive can drink a quart of water per day. Bees are often attracted to swimming pools, buckets, or bird baths to drink, but often drown in the deep water. With a few household items, you can make a bee or butterfly bath for your garden!
Materials:
- Shallow dish; we found ours at the dollar store
- Glass beads, decorative fake stones, wine corks, rocks, etc.
- Electrical conduit, cut to desired height, 1-inch diameter
- Wooden dowel, diameter small enough to fit inside hollow conduit
- Waterproof super glue, we used Gorilla Glue brand
Instructions:
- Select a good spot for your bee bath to go, preferably an area in your garden that is near flowers or vegetables but easily accessible by both pollinators & you.
- Flip your plate over so the back side is facing upwards. Glue wooden dowel to center, following directions on packaging. Allow to dry completely.
- Push your piece of electrical conduit into the ground in your chosen spot. If the soil is too hard, a rubber mallet may be used to push conduit in deep enough, so it does not tip over.
- After glue has dried, place your dowel/plate on top of electrical conduit, sliding the dowel into the hollow inside of conduit.
- Place you beads, marbles, rocks, or corks in the dish. Feel free to get creative, pollinators just need something to sit and rest on while they drink.
- Add some water to your dish, just enough to cover the items on the bottom, we don’t want the water to be too deep.
- Sit back and wait for pollinators to stop by your garden!