Pond Dipping

The weather is very changeable.

Yesterday, cold and wet.

Today, sunny but still a chill in the air ....perfect for dealing with the pond and its needs.

But first I planted the sweetpea row. 

And put in a tray of cornflowers.

Difficult to imagine what they will look like in the end.

A frost is forecast for Wednesday evening!!

 Steve put in the bean tripods.

 

But the main job was to get rid of blanket weed on the pond plus a bit of thinning out here and there.

 

It is interesting to remember where we have come from 

with this pond. 

It is the most successful of the three ponds we have ever created.

I think that is because of its size and location.

Back in 2011 it was a bramble patch.

In this picture the little polytunnel stands on the present site of the mini-stable.

Looking in the opposite direction.

 

Not long after that Alan Cook came to dig out the new site.

And it only took a year to get this way.

I was amazed.

 

Here it is in February this year, looking clear.

 But it wasn`t long before blanket weed started to cover the surface.

Our most useful tool for the job was a long tined scratch rake but we ended up using loppers and a saw.

Out came all the unwanted weed, from which I picked out the feathery oxygenating plants.

Then Steve tackled the bamboo-like plant which has taken over one corner. Its tall stems bend over and root wherever they touch.

It was a matted tangle of roots.

We got the whole lot out as we`re not keen on its invasive tendency.

We left it draped beside a log seat, in order for the creatures to find their way back to the water.

We did actually find two newts as well as large black water snails.

I saved a lot of mint to pot up at home.

We even found some parrot weed, something we have tried to eradicate due to its invasive qualities in the countryside.

The corner was remarkably clear.

And by the end of the morning the whole pond was looking much more as if it could breathe.

 

 

 The fairy yurt is up and running.

Seats are set under the orchard trees ready for quiet contemplation.

The blossom is stunning, even though the wind and rain had scattered petals like snowflakes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all a very satisfying morning`s work.

 

2012 before the cobshed was completed.