OH!! this is the perfect answer! I too start my seed on top of my big old monitor. I love the berry containers for starting my seed - fill almost full with Pro Mix tamp down, place seed, water well and let drain well out the little slots. I snap the lids shut on the tag (you can also write on the lids - but I reuse them)and I can place 5 containers at a time up there. covered with a tea towel I measured 100 degrees with my candy therm. seed will sprout within a week, and when they touch the lids I pop them open. I needed bottom heat for my seedlings - I live in a Very cool house - read that as drafty. so I dragged out my old electric blanket - laid down a plastic shower curtain folded the blanket on it and pulled the other half of the shower curtain over the top. had it plugged in all day and could not get any warmth... maybe that is why I still had it in the closet! LOL BUT THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!! ohhhh Re do! I yanked out the string of white light rope I had. within 5 minutes I had heat! how perfect is this?!?! - lights within a plastic tube! I strung it back n forth like the heat tube on a pro bench and placed my trays on top. Using the candy therm ... I had about 85 degrees! tomorrow I am going to the cheap stores ... in search of ! some more white rope lite! thanks for a wonderful web site! best growing! Kim

I've had a heated birdbath for years, and can't think of any problems other than making sure it is kept clean (mine is kind of near a birdfeeder (on my backyard deck) and sometimes birdseed gets into it) but that's not really a problem, I just clean it out when I need too. Just a few days ago on one of our 30ish degree days we have been having lately,I was yelling down to my husband all the different birds that were taking turns drinking and bathing in it. I saw Cardinals,goldfinches,black capped chickadees,nutthatches,pine siskens,sparrows, blue jays,house wrens,and many more, all taking turns either drinking or bathing, That was so much fun. one of my cats sits on the windowsill also watching, but the birds have gotten so used to her there they don't bat an eye. As to the electic cord, I do have an outlet on my deck, but still need an extention, but if I was you I would do like some of the previous posts and just run a good outdoor extention to it. The fun you get watching is well worth it. If you build it, they will come you know.

I have one like this that will fit any bath, I paid about $50 at a pet store, but been using it for more than 10 years. I'd like to try one of the ones that are submersible, the flat circular ones, they're cheaper too, but i can't say how they'd hold up. This one can get knocked over on busy days, but I have to fill the bath everyday anyway, so it's no biggie. I'm convinced that water brings as many if not more birds than food in winter, I have flocks of bluebirds, finches, doves, sparrows, everything all day long lining up for a turn at the bath. When we have long below freezing spells, i often have to fill twice a day. Another Lynn in IN ;~) Here is a link that might be useful: the type of heater i have.

Yes, I love the monarda/bee balm, Samuel. I've never been able to grow it very well. What is the secret to growing it? Ken, as the appraisers on "Antiques Roadshow" would say, your bird bath has patina. It's much more interesting and appealing to me that way. Good find. Jim, that is a cute little finch. Do you have a lot of them? We've got many, and they live in the three blue spruce next door. I love those guys and call them the Bickersons. They bicker and chatter up a storm. They like to live in climbing roses, and in my former home, they lived in the ivy that grew on the house. I didn't realize there were nests in the ivy until I got hit in the face with bird poopla that fell out of the nest as I was cleaning the ivy. Live and learn. Diane