Urn Gardening

This sphere spread with peanut butter is a tasty treat for birds.

The plastic-foam spheres pose no danger to birds. When you notice the sphere showing through the seed, it's time to put another layer of peanut butter and seed on it.

• One 10-inch cast-iron urn
• One 8-inch cast-iron urn
• Plastic-foam spheres (6- and 8-inch spheres for urn toppers; 3- and 4-inch ones for smaller tabletop spheres)
• Two bags of birdseed (one each of black sunflower seeds and a birdseed mix)
• Creamy peanut butter
• Butter knife or frosting spatula
• Tree branch or chopstick
• Two rectangular pans or trays with sides, such as a jelly-roll pan or disposable plastic-foam tray
• Waxed paper

Step 1

1. Fill one of the pans with enough seed to evenly cover the bottom. Set aside.

2. Place a plastic-foam sphere on a table covered with waxed paper (or another protected surface). Using a butter knife or frosting spatula, smoothly spread peanut butter onto the sphere until it's completely covered. To make the job easier, insert a chopstick or tree branch 1/2 inch into the sphere and use it as a handle to turn the sphere as you spread.

Step 3

3. When the sphere is covered in peanut butter, roll it in the seed-filled pan. Use your hands to press birdseed firmly into place. Continue rolling, as needed, until entire surface is covered.

4. Repeat for other spheres. Place completed spheres on another tray lined with waxed paper. Place in refrigerator for six to eight hours or until set.

5. Remove spheres from refrigerator; set larger ones on urns. Place the urns or the small spheres on an outdoor tabletop or in your garden. Beware: Birds love these creations so much that you'll need to refresh them with more peanut butter and seeds often.