Hand building a clay pond

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Thanks Will, generally I would be too lazy to do it also and was for several years, but I injured my back and doing stuff in the garden (and avoiding sitting down for anything other than short periods) has really been the best therapy for it possible. I'm almost afraid to stop in case the back and leg pains come back. At the start of the year it was a struggle to walk to the pond I was in so much pain and thoughts of renovating it seemed pretty fanciful.
Some fauna and flora pics from today:
Whirligig making ripples around the now emerged Water Mint

Greater Water Boatman

Brook Lime is up and away!

Also caught sight of a diving beetle, probably Common Black Diving Beetle but didn't get a good look (or a piccy) before it disappeared into the still rather murky water.

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GemmaJF Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4312	Post Options Post Reply Quote GemmaJF Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Sep 2014 at 12:34pm
	Thanks Will, generally I would be too lazy to do it also and was for several years, but I injured my back and doing stuff in the garden (and avoiding sitting down for anything other than short periods) has really been the best therapy for it possible. I'm almost afraid to stop in case the back and leg pains come back. At the start of the year it was a struggle to walk to the pond I was in so much pain and thoughts of renovating it seemed pretty fanciful. Some fauna and flora pics from today: Whirligig making ripples around the now emerged Water Mint Greater Water Boatman Brook Lime is up and away! Also caught sight of a diving beetle, probably Common Black Diving Beetle but didn't get a good look (or a piccy) before it disappeared into the still rather murky water.

Suzy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1320	Post Options Post Reply Quote Suzy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Sep 2014 at 12:48pm
	Looking good Gemma. Well done!
	Suz

will Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1807	Post Options Post Reply Quote will Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Sep 2014 at 4:15pm
	Glad to hear it was good therapy Gemma; digging my current pond literally gave me a hernia - and the b*gger is in the wrong place anyway!

GemmaJF Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4312	Post Options Post Reply Quote GemmaJF Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Sep 2014 at 6:23pm
	Sounds painful Will, probably best to just leave it in the wrong place

GemmaJF Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4312	Post Options Post Reply Quote GemmaJF Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Oct 2014 at 9:26am
	I was going to wait until the spring to plant up the bog garden, but it looks so empty I succumbed this morning and ordered, bog bean, bog arum and Branched Bur-reed. I know Bog arum isn't a native, but it is naturalised locally and was growing naturally in the wildlife garden before I turned it into a building site whilst renovating the pond. Sadly it was situated where the new hedge is going to be and is unlikely to survive, so it seemed only right to buy some to plant in the bog garden. Ordered again from Puddleplants (puddleplants.co.uk) who have provided an excellent service and quality of plants, would thoroughly recommend them. You sometimes get an extra one or two plants in the order too which I find a lovely touch in this day and age.

GemmaJF Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4312	Post Options Post Reply Quote GemmaJF Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 Oct 2014 at 4:10pm
	Plants arrived for the bog garden today:

Tom Omlette Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 07 Nov 2013 Location: Stoke on Trent Status: Offline Points: 449	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tom Omlette Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 Oct 2014 at 10:19pm
	great stuff gemma. love the pics. keep 'em coming :) tim

GemmaJF Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4312	Post Options Post Reply Quote GemmaJF Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Oct 2014 at 11:26am
	Pond is full to the brim after rain Saturday and early this morning: Grass is pushing up nicely, still very murky in there though! Not sure of the species but we have a lot of little beetles that have appeared. They float on the surface along with the gnat larvae and dive down when disturbed. They are black and about 2 mm long.

GemmaJF Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4312	Post Options Post Reply Quote GemmaJF Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 Oct 2014 at 10:08am
	Pond is overflowing this morning with more heavy rain overnight and this morning! Thought it best to leave it in overflow and see if that helps to reduce the nitrogen level after the initial fill with tap-water. I'm so excited about what spring will bring to the pond, I could almost burst

Suzy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1320	Post Options Post Reply Quote Suzy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 Oct 2014 at 10:49pm
	Imagine that day Gemma as you approach the pond and something swirls off...frog...newt...or you go out one morning and there is a clump of spawn, or maybe several! I think it is the sheer unpredictability of what might turn up that is so exciting. Wonderful!
	Suz