Turn A Dollar Tree Punch Bowl Into A Backyard Feature Birds Will Love

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There's something about flowing water that just catches the eye. This is probably why people have built decorative fountains in gardens and public spaces for thousands of years. The Ancient Romans used aqueducts to funnel water down from the mountains into their capital city, and this constantly flowing water supplied ornamental fountains, both public and private. In the 17th century, King Louis XIV commissioned the construction of 55 fountains at Versailles by routing water from the river Seine. Fortunately, today you don't need the technological genius of the Ancient Romans or the vast riches of the French kings to build your own backyard fountain. All you need is a punch bowl from the Dollar Tree and a solar fountain.

Before you get started on this DIY solar-powered fountain project, it's good to have a sense of the finished product. You will essentially have a punch bowl full of water with a device inside that pumps water about a foot into the air. The water should fall back into the bowl, so you won't have to worry about refilling it until the water gets dirty. The Dollar Tree punch bowl, which only costs $2, is plastic but looks like elegant cut crystal. A Mademax solar bird bath pump sells for $14. If you need any more reason to try this DIY, Mademax pumps are known to tempt hummingbirds and many other bird species who are drawn to the sound of running water. 

This project will only take you a few minutes to complete. Once you have your punch bowl, you need to fill it with fresh water. Then, simply remove your solar pump from its packaging and place it in the water. The device only needs a few seconds of direct sunlight to start pumping. You can also add some colorful stones to the bottom of the bath to refract light into the falling water. This will make your porch an even more calming place to sit and read or hang out with friends or family. The falling water might even help you doze off.

There are a few tips you should keep in mind. Make sure to change the water every few days, because you don't want birds to get sick if they happen to drink from it. Also, clean the pump every once in a while so it doesn't get gunky and start to clog. If you're not interested in using the punch bowl trick, you can still use the pump in your backyard bird bath. The device just needs a few inches of water to work and won't scare the birds away. You might consider leaving the pump in your punch bowl or bird bath as the nights get colder to prevent freezing, but this is not a great idea. If water freezes in this device's pipes, it will break. As the weather starts to get colder, use dark stones to prevent your fountain from freezing.