themagnoliatreeblog

Over the past couple of years, I’ve watched my little pond get reduced to a muddy puddle. At first I emptied it and cleaned it out and couldn’t see where the water was leaking. The water level would get down to a certain level and stay there. I put more water in it and some food dye. The trickle must have been too slow to make any difference so once again I studied it at water level when it suddenly dawned on me. I have an armillary and it had to be rescued from the pond when my neighbour’s dog had decided to turn the garden into a race track and must have knocked it over. It was one of many things in the garden damaged by that marauding little mutt. She’s cute really but only when well behaved. 

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The pond was cleared and the liner renewed last year but it was done quickly, one wet weekend and there was a slight error on sizes. The hosta growing at the edge of the pond caused a lot of problems making the small pond even smaller. The area surrounding it is now under reconstruction.

The hosta has been removed and will need to be content with living in a pot, at least for this year. Some of the plants unfortunately have become a bit invasive. Pretty in early spring, the bright yellow celandine (Brazen Hussy) was a cheerful sight, but alas it behaves like a weed and was taking over other areas outwith the garden so has been removed (I think).

The pond had it’s own problems with ever expanding irises (Louisiana Black Gamecock) and a small white water lily that I have long since forgotten it’s name. It is almost time for the pond’s residents to start their little families again although describing their families as ‘little’ is very much tongue-in-cheek. Frogs take over every inch of water in the pond and their spawn doesn’t just float, it’s built up like a condominium and probably provides rich pickings for our feathered friends.

There is a covering of duckweed at the moment as it was such a mild winter, it never really died off but it does get harvested and after letting it sit by the pond to allow any of the insects on it, to return to their watery home, the dried duckweed gets added to the compost bin. It will not go to waste. Although I have already removed the iris and water lilies, it is still quite chilly and I am reluctant to tackle the cold, wet job of splitting and re-potting them, so I await some sunshine to at least give the illusion of warmth.

 Why not visit my other blog Grannysattic