the online meeting place for all who love our amphibians and reptiles |
|
Hand building a clay pond |
Post Reply | Page <1 6789> |
Author | |
GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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
Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1447 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Looking good Gemma. Well done!
|
|
Suz
|
|
will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Sounds painful Will, probably best to just leave it in the wrong place
|
|
GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Plants arrived for the bog garden today:
|
|
Tom Omlette
Senior Member Joined: 07 Nov 2013 Location: Stoke on Trent Status: Offline Points: 449 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
great stuff gemma. love the pics. keep 'em coming :)
tim
|
|
GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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
Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1447 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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
|
|
Post Reply | Page <1 6789> |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |