WHAT TO DO WITH UNUSABLE BIRD BATH

It would look glorious with a huge hosta sitting in it - one of the ones with big leaves or an unusual fern.

I like the sound of those Cammomile. I do have a painted fern and some lovely hostas just in pots, may give them a try:-)

Oh well it still looks smashing Ba and I like where you have placed it, as Cam said will look great with what I always think of as statuesque planting, they have them in lots of the stately home parks and garden.
As One has now adopted the" Chateau Very Chic Style" indoors, it stands to sense "One Simply Must"continue in the grounds also..
Sorry couldn't resist it, lol.....

Hey, Ba - I was imagining a weird thingy, but it's classy. I like it! Yes, do plant it up...I still think that Heucherella I mentioned to you would light it up and look great.

I agree with Sue,Ba..I think it looks lovely there,and no end of possibilities for planting..A bowl of daffs in spring,to ring the changes,and one of your Hosta's or ferns,for summer is a great idea..well worth giving it a new lease of life :o)x

Thanks mateys, lots of good ideas from you all, better than mine. I found two begonias in a hanging basket, which I was emptying, which had sprouted. Such a mild winter! I stuck them in it although the corms were massive and barely fitted in, also stuck in a fuchsia which had also survived. Problem is, with the internal sides sloping, there isn't a lot of level depth for the most part. I put them in yesterday, they can soon come out and, if I remember rightly, one of the begonias was massive and upright and look very odd in the basket last year lol:-)

Love your circle garden, and the last pic is beautiful!

Perhaps something trailing for your old birdbath? Vinca is obvs happy in shade and would look pretty, maybe with some Pulmonarias??

I do love pulmonarias Sheila, but would like something splendiferous which can be seen from a distance and look fabulous and glowing all season. A lot to ask? Yes I know:-))) To the left of where it's sited is my storage bit for pots and supports etc, often garden tools and compost too, hidden behind a trellis. I need something to draw the eye from it. My lovely, dainty pulmonaria Opal is being munched, probably slugs or snails:-( ...I'm declaring a partial war on them this year:-)

I think it will look all right once you're planted something in it :) I'm glad you didn't just get rid of it.

Variegated Pieris 'forest flame'??!

Thanks Hywel, no idea how I could have got rid of it, it would take two men to move it lol. I quite like its shape anyway and it was rather expensive. The company who made it never returned my email nor was the company I brought it from at all helpful grrr:-)

Unfortunately Sheila it's not deep enough. I do have a lovely dwarf variegated pieris, looking absolutely magical in its pot at the moment with its bright red new growth, which could have gone in there:-)

Oh, go and look at 'Spring Symphony', for goodness sake, Ba!! Trust me, it would look FAB!!!!

I think I've seen umpteen tales of functional garden features ending up as plant holder rather than what they were intend for. Nothing worse than an impractical bird bath, yuk! I find a large ceramic saucer does a great job.
That aside, I think you've sited it just right and it looks marvellous. Good luck on deciding what to grow in it. Me, I'd be tempted to make a miniature woodland garden for plants that would enjoy the shade the site offers.

I like the hosta idea or a large drooping fern perhaps? That last photo is SO pretty.

I like it better now BA without the water feature ! You can get some lovely grasses now that would trail over the edge. The hosta idea is good though, but I think that whatever goes in it will look good !

Now look here Barbara, I did google Spring Symphony and it's a pretty tiarella, is that the one you mean?:-)

I do have an old concrete bird bath Scottish, the sort where the top comes off to empty and clean, just fancied going posh grrrr:-)

Something big and bold with smaller plants trailing over the edges - much nicer as a planter than as a birdbath.

Thanks Urbanite:-)

Yes, indeedy, Ba. What did you think?

I do love it, but for the bird bath I need something to look brilliant all summer, May buy it for my north bed though .... now look what you've done:-))

Hmmm...thinking caps on again, Ba.

You KNOW you like finding out about 'new' plants, so don't blame me!

I'll blame anyone but myself:-)))

LOL.