Pond overhaul

I love the wildlife pond area of the garden, its now hidden from view most of the year by a huge native hedge that was grown from whips.  There is almost a secret garden feeling now at the end of the garden, its an area to come to for contemplation.  I haven't got round to putting a bench down there maybe next year.  It looks lovely at the height of the summer, but I made a mistake in the choice of oxygenator and its unwieldiness (if that's even a word) has gone unchecked...That is until now. 

Its autumn and the leaves of the Amelanchier are bright red, this has spurned me on to get the wildlife pond sorted for next years fresh load of frogspawn, apparently this is the perfect time - less wildlife to annoy! :)  It's been something to focus on away from the reality that is life. 

Here is what the pond looked like in August/September, all super-green and abundant.  But, spot the water, it is suffering. As we look towards winter I am aware there is no space for the birds to come and bathe, and that has to change.  There is some kind of meadow grass this year that has come from nowhere and gone completely mad + nettles (which I don't mind in small quantities and controlled to one area).

So we have put the winter hats on the gunnera early and divided a couple of hostas at the ponds edge to begin with.  The aim was to remove and compost as much of the oxygenator plant and then widen/flatten the main pond margin to accommodate more marginal plant baskets.

This has been achieved through careful strategic spade use.  We have moved back some of the liner, dug down and made the edge wider and flatter.  We are thinking that two more Flag iris's would be a good choice to bring the total to 3. We usually get a dragonfly on these, but I missed this presence this year, another indicator that things needed to be changed.

Now with the area mulched and weeded, we wait for spring.  To help us on our way to the best month of the year, we have prepared some more Anemone root-cuttings.  We found a gorgeous one in a garden centre called 'Frilly Knickers' and I couldn't resist checking its root health prior to purchase to see if this was possible.  Fingers crossed! 

    Wishing my extended family overseas a peaceful winter, yours, Patrick.