Two garden pieces in one is the idea behind the Hummingbird birdbath sundial. The basin holds water for birds, and the rim carries Roman numerals so the piece also tells time when the sun is out. Hummingbirds and leaves are cast into the design, which is why gardeners who already keep feeders tend to buy it.

Finishes on the Hummingbird birdbath sundial

Three colors are offered. Copper Verdi has the green-tinged look of old copper roofing. Oil Rubbed Bronze is dark and warm, close to the finish on good door hardware. French Bronze is the third choice, a traditional bronze tone. All three are applied over the casting and sealed with an all-weather protective coating.

Recycled aluminum, made in the USA

The Hummingbird birdbath sundial is cast from recycled aluminum, so it will not rust, and it’s light enough to move when you mow. It’s made in the USA, and the finish is backed by a five-year warranty. Rinse the basin out every few days in summer so the water stays fresh, and empty it before a hard freeze if you live where winters bite.

Reading the dial

The numerals around the edge of the Hummingbird birdbath sundial mark the hours. Set the piece in open sun, away from tree shade, and turn it so the shadow falls on the right numeral at noon. Then it will stay roughly correct through the season. It’s not a precision clock, but that’s hardly the point. A birdbath that tells time gives a garden path a reason to pause.

If you’d like a plain basin without the dial, the other bird baths are listed separately. And for a dial on its own, without the basin, the sundials collection has those.