Project Wildlife Pond

On a recent visit to our favourite garden (and its owners of course), we sat whiling away some time by their pond.  They have the most beautiful wildlife pond fed by an amazing little stream.  It looks so natural that if we hadn't seen it being created, we would not have known it wasn't.

The Man that Can from that garden was good enough to draw up a plan for our very own little water feature.  We 'lived' with the plan for a while before my own Man that Can decided that with a little adaptation he was ready to begin.

The original plan was to have a pond at the top of this part of the patio feeding a waterfall and another pond below on the bottom.  We discussed it, but because we have dogs and regularly disinfect the main patio, it wouldn't be suitable for a pond on the bottom part.  So we would adapt it to fit it all on the top part.  (also away from little ones when they visit).

We've decided that our garden breeds rocks.  Fortunately many of the rocks could be useful.

The soil beneath sand and rocks beneath the thin layer of concrete beneath the slabs was of really good quality.  It might not be as long a project as first imagined.

A much needed rest before discovering the liner wasn't quite level and having to be removed.

Rocks dug up having a good scrub.

And Bob's your mother's brother!

The ferns from the wicker basket were found a more permanent home, along with a couple of lily of the valley plants from our friends and the lilac coloured hardy geranium that didn't quite fit in the pink garden.  The 'log' came with us from our old garden and will be the perfect place for froglets to hide should we be fortunate to get some.

Isn't it amazing what you can create in a weekend?

June's end

And what a difference a few weeks can make in the garden!

Above Eryngium is beginning to take up a blue hint.  Below the plants in the alpine trough have been happily filling out and blooming away.

Our inherited clematis around the garden.  The light pink I am sure is Madame Boisellotte.  Not sure about the others yet, but they are very useful and pretty - and can certainly stay.  They didn't flower very well last year, but this year after some correct pruning and TLC they are very much proving their worth.

 New bud of r. Tall Story will soon turn white and the scent stops you in your tracks.

Tiny flower of lobelia. I bought white ones...

Unfortunately the Hypericum has rust.  Once I have moved it in the autumn, I will cut it back hard.  If it gets rust again, out it will go.  I don't give room for plants that defoliate and look sick.  Plants have to be able to stick up for themselves here.  They'll get a second chance, but then they're out on their ear if they don't buck up their ideas... 

 Beautiful white Osteospermum.

Bedding plants (diascias and verbenas) in the containers either side of the companion seat (currently on the deck).

I forget what these are called........

 But will never forget the lovely gardening friend they came from...

Hardy Geranium in the pink and white garden.  A little too blue, so they will be moved. 

 Crocosmias budding up nicely.

And a iris I didn't know we had bought!  We took mother to the last plant sale at the Botanical Gardens I bought a white one and she bought a blue one.... 

Another happy surprise is this poppy!  It is my belief that poppy seeds may well have been scattered in this area previously, but failed to germinate due to the huge conifer trees smothering the garden.  This year the light and water have been able to get to the seeds and this is the result (or we forgot that we had scattered them!)

It didn't take me long to decide what to plant in these mangers on the top shed.  We have petunias, fuchsias, diascias and lobelia.

The house plants came out to be repotted and given a good shower.

This basket is hanging from the bottom shed, with pinks and purples it ties the top garden into the pink garden just nicely.

Beneath the kitchen window, the white lobelia, petunias and fuchsias positively glow in the evenings.  To stop it being boring, the fuchsias have a bright pink stripe which will pick out the pelargoniums when they come into flower.

Either side of the patio doors hangs a basket with near-black petunias and white lobelia.  Well, I bought white lobelia, but there is the odd deep blue flower coming through, which did not impress me much! 

After a long day at work, there is nothing better than having a nice cup of tea sitting on the deck enjoying the containers either side of me.... 

Until the wasps show up to eat the seat!!!!  Their rasping really sets my teeth on edge.

Talking of busy, our own bumble bee celebrates his 11th birthday with some home-grown radishes.  He has been looking after his patch very well, weeding and watering when needed all by himself, so he deserves to look so pleased with himself.

All three r. New Dawn are in flower.  They are a paler pink than I had imagined, but lovely none the less and really lightens the area.  They are not quite as heavily scented as I had wished for either, but they are healthy and vigorous so all in all I am happy with them.  They will soon cover their wires along the bottom of the garden.

I just cannot have too many hardy geraniums.  This white one is in the perfect spot in the pink garden.

This little plant was another from our friends.  It's carpeting the area beautifully, and the pinky purple flowers are a bonus. 

Gardening makes me smile.  June is just the month to enjoy what you have created.  You can sit with a glass of something tasty and decide what works and what doesn't, make notes to move plants in the autumn or note down plants to buy to fill a gap.  I can't believe how much we have done in just one year! Planning makes me smile too.