Ponds page 3
|
 |
|
|
Above is a view of my feeder pond with the filter
housing just behind it. This is the pond that feeds into my main pond, and is, I
think, starting to look mature at the beginning of it's third year. The plant
with the floating leaves is Aponogeton distachys or water hawthorn and yes it
can flower in April in this country, even though it originates from South
Africa. To the front of the main leaves are the smaller ones of last years
offspring.
|
|
Another Water Feature
Now for those of you who have so far resisted
all my encouragement to have a water feature, how about this. Clouds and
sky reflections, and it took about ten minutes to set up. The outer pot
is terracotta, diameter about one foot six inches (45cm), the inner one
is green plastic and watertight. I half filled it with pebbles then
placed three small marginal water plants, complete with plastic planters
just below the surface. The plants are just breaking dormancy in the
photograph. You could of course leave out the pebbles and have a
miniature waterlily in there instead. So come on, what excuse can you
have now, for not having a water feature. Even this little feature will
attract a range of small water creatures. If you live where mosquitoes
could be a problem add a couple of tiny fish, but be sure to take them
indoors if your winters are cold.
|
|
|
|
|
One more Caltha or marsh marigold, this time
Caltha palustris plena. The plena refers to the double flowers on a plant
far neater and more compact than it's single flowered parent.
|
Iris bought as sibirica, but I'm not convinced,
grows and flowers with a cover of about two inches (5cm) of water over the
roots.
|
|
|
|
Ranunculus acris Flore Pleno, a double buttercup
and again happy with up to two inches (5cm) of water over the roots.
Flowers similar to the Caltha shown above, but this plant flowers later
and for much longer. Both the Ranunculus and the Iris would be happy
in wet ground/bog garden.
|
|
|
|
A general shot looking down past the filter
box and feeder pond to my main pond in May. Looks better now the plants
are in full growth, believe it or not there is a path between the purple
leaved Acer and the Geranium to the left of it, but not for long if I
don't keep them both cut back.
|
|
|
|