The Cute Garden Ornament That'll Keep Hummingbirds Cool & Refreshed In Summer Heat

If you want to add a delightfully adorable element to your garden that also benefits hummingbirds, we've got a solution that's a win-win for both you and the local wildlife. These cute Copper Poppy Sways not only enhance the look of your favorite flowers by swaying delicately in the breeze and catching sunlight, but they also collect rainwater in the cup of each stake. Not only is this a benefit for your garden — when a breeze blows through, leftover rainwater will tip out from the cups and sustainably water your plants for you — but hummingbirds will flock to these cups to cool off and take a quick bath. It's also a win for garden maintenance, as you don't have to worry about regularly filling and dumping the cups like you would a traditional bird bath.

Though it's true that hummingbirds mostly subsist on nectar, meaning they don't need water to drink, that doesn't mean these copper poppy cups won't attract them regardless. Hummingbirds love to bathe in fresh water — it gives them a chance to clean off their feathers, cool off in hot temperatures, and remove built-up nectar from their beaks.

While it might seem like hummingbirds could benefit more from a birdbath than a garden sway, that's actually not the case. Because hummingbirds are so small and short, they can sometimes struggle to use regular-sized birdbaths — even ones that most other birds love. Hummingbirds need very shallow water to bathe in, which is why they're often drawn to garden sprinklers and running water features; the mist will help them clean themselves off without submerging themselves.

Garden sways are the perfect size for even the smallest of hummingbirds. When the sways drip water in the wind, it's likely that hummingbirds will want to fly through the water droplets to help them clean their wings. Hummingbirds are also light and small enough to be able to perch on the edges of these copper sways, and when the water in the cups is low enough, you might even spot a hummingbird dipping in and out of the water in the cups to take a bath. 

If you live in an area with steady rainfall, keeping these sways full shouldn't be an issue. If this isn't the case, however, try to position them in the path of your sprinklers or by a hose for easy filling.

Though you're bound to find a stray hummingbird or two enjoying your poppy sways, the best way to attract more hummingbirds to your yard (and keep them there) is by providing them with lots of nectar to drink. Hummingbirds spend most of their day drinking nectar, and as enticing as garden sways may be, hummingbirds will be less likely to stick around if there's no source of nearby nutrients for them. 

There are plenty of tips and tricks to help you build a flourishing hummingbird garden, from all of the plants that will attract hummingbirds and the best hummingbird feeder to buy, too. While you can certainly grab an enclosed feeder for your local hummingbirds to feast on, trying to add nectar to your copper sways isn't a good idea. Nectar left out in the open can evaporate quickly. It's also exposed to elements like dirt, dust, pests, and other wildlife that could harm the hummingbirds while drinking. Additionally, a hummingbird feeder is easier to clean and swap out than gardening stakes. Nectar needs to be replaced every day during hot summers, or else the solution will ferment or mold and could kill the hummingbirds that feed in your garden. Replacing the nectar in a feeder or two is easy, but that's not the case for a bundle of gardening sways.