Standard glass tubes split the first time water freezes inside them. This one is a thickened, freeze-proof acrylic tube that stays clear and intact through frost, so you can leave it out all winter. The 7" tube carries dual-scale markings in inches and centimeters, with enlarged high-contrast numbers you can read from several feet away - no squinting, no kneeling in wet grass.
Copper-finished metal branches, hand-painted green metal leaves, and a little bird perched right where the tube rests - it reads as yard art first and a rain gauge second. Don't be surprised if guests ask about the bird before they notice what it measures.
Three stake sections assemble into a full 37-inch stake, tall enough to stand above flower beds and low shrubs instead of hiding behind them. The metal frame carries a rust-resistant finish and pushes deep into soil, holding steady through wind and heavy downpours.
Screw the three stake sections together, seat the tube in the bracket, push it into the ground - done. The tube lifts straight out for a quick rinse, so algae and dirt never get the chance to cloud your readings.
A rain gauge is one of those gifts gardeners never buy for themselves but always end up using. It arrives in protective packaging, ready to give - for parents, neighbors, housewarmings, and anyone who checks the sky before deciding whether to water.