The pond

This blank corner was crying out for a feature.  It lends itself to a little shady spot to enjoy an alfresco meal perhaps but to me it screamed water.  Having a pond encourages wildlife into the garden and the sound of water helps to mask the noise of life outside. 

Once the plan had been drawn up, it took just one weekend (of very hard graft) to build.  All the rocks were found in the garden.  The pond and the first waterfall were preformed and plants were divided from other beds.

Since the pond is in a relatively shaded area, ferns and hostas thrive here.

After a couple of years we invested in a sturdier, fibreglass waterfall and a frog set up home.

Maintaining the pond includes removing the pond weed regularly and cleaning the pump twice a year.  Once every two years we change the water, allowing us to remove the silt that builds up on the bottom.  About two thirds of the water is replaced with rain water. 

There is a space at the back of the waterfall to allow access and in 2019 this area was completely renovated as a Japanese anemone had run amok.  This little bed is light but receives no direct sunshine, therefore a black fern, a hellebore and a couple of bergenias join a variegated euonymous and a fatsia japonica for some interest. 

2021

In 2022, we redesigned the pond.

The original plastic preformed pond was emptied and the residents safely moved to pots and buckets.

I drafted a new design on paper, with various levels, moving the waterfall to the opposite end, allowing us to create a "beach" at the other.

All the water was from our 6 waterbutts. Not a drop of tap water was used, allowing for the plants and inhabitants to more easily adapt. We had rain water in the buckets mixed with the water from the original pond too. 

All the new pebbles were hand washed to keep silt and possible chemicals to a minimum.  The larger edging rocks from the original pond remained unwashed as they were already growing beautiful moss.

It took a day or two for the water to settle but the plants and critters appeared to appreciate the new design. 

We hadn't expected and frogspawn in the first spring but were very pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed watching the tiny froglets emerging among the pebbles.