The sun is shining the weather is sweet and I have hayfever.  The hayfever days are the worst as I love being outside, I love the sunshine and ironically I love flowers.  Most of the time my medication works but towards the beginning of the year NOTHING will save me.  I reluctantly vowed to have a day inside despite the steamingly beautiful weather outside but I got a lovely surprise visit from my sister who brought me some of her strawberry plants (she has an abundance) and with it an anemone and some sorrel.  She then came back and brought me and my husband a choc ice from the shop...what a brilliant sister!

 

 

In true fighting style I decided to eat my choc ice outside and whilst I was out there it looked  so beautiful I managed to take some very quick photos of my recent projects before becoming a snivelling wreck.  The pond is looking amazing now albeit a bit green (I was too excited to wait for rain and so used water from the hose...)

 

 

I recently made a mobile out of shells that I had collected over the years that were just sitting around in a box inside a darkened cupboard, and some chandelier drops that were hanging around after we bought the house.  My sister described it as a bit 'Blair Witchy'.  I can see that but the crystal drops and shining mother of pearl shells send darts of light around the garden.  It's a disco ball for the birds and frogs.

 

 

Last years tulips are looking pretty good this year.  I have a terrible memory as to what I have planted where so it's always a nice surprise to see what is coming up.  I think I will move these to the border when I have finished and put the strawberries into the Butlers Sink. Also the greenhouse is looking fantastic.  Only completed a few weeks ago with help from my other half who also built some excellent benches out of old decking planks.

 

  

 

We've hurried to get it finished as we wanted to get it ready to put the pricked out plants in that I've been growing for my sisters wedding at Summer Solstice.  I will put up a post showing how we built the greenhouse later. There are loads of Cosmos, Poppies, Argentum, Clary and sunflowers to name but a few. 

 

Before my sister and I started growing flowers for my wedding last year we hadn't given them much thought and only grew 'practical plants' that is ones that you can eat, use as manure of keep pests away with.  I think both of us now really appreciate how nice it is to be able to bring in fresh cut flowers into your house every week that you have grown in your own garden.  They're delicious!Below is how my garden looked like last year.

 

  

 





 

The Wildlife Pond

Our garden is not enormous nor is it tiny, yet it is has the complement of slugs that would be better provisioned by a small farm!  A slug sighting is a rare occasion but the disappointing evidence is everywhere to be seen.  I do not want to use slug pellets and I believe that a reduction in my slimy nemeses can be achieved through a slight re-balance of the ecology in the garden.  What I need is to recruit some pest controlling friends in the form of frogs, hedgehogs and birds.  Removing some unwanted decking revealed an area that would be perfect for positioning our new pond.
 

It's fair to say that we have been paid a few surprise visits from frogs in the garden over time however it's clear that we need an army of frogs to control our sluggy siege.  Our frog army will need somewhere to sleep, somewhere to and eat and somewhere to make froggy love.  Our next door neighbours have a long established pond so I'm hopping (spelling intended) that some of them will be attracted by the new pond on the block! 

Step 1 - Equipment: Making a pond is very simple and can be very cheap.  I bought a rigid pond 90cm in diameter and 30cm deep for around £30 and also a cheap and cheerful solar powered fountain to move the water around a bit for £25 online.  I wanted to utilise the natural power of the sun rather than burning more fossil fuels but what it lacks in power and poise it makes up for in comedy, only spurting in full sun light and stopping when a cloud comes along, and adaptability, it would be easy to convert it to make your very own upcycled solar fountain.

• Pond liner (either rigid of fabric)
• Spade
• Sand
• Fork
• Spirit level
• Strong arms!
• Optional - solar fountain

Step 2 - Dig a hole! Yes it really is that simple although you will need some muscle power.  I discovered that I was so excited by the prospect of having a pond that I was motivated to dig as quickly as possible!  My long suffering Husband also joined in with the digging.  Before I knew it there was a hole big enough to fit in the rigid mould.  I made sure that there were no large sharp stones and put a flattened inch of sand in the bottom of the hole.  Then place your pond liner into the hole and use a spirit level to check it is level.  You will need to 'backfill' some of the soil you have dug into the gap between the liner and the edge of the hole.  Keep checking the levels as you backfill to make sure it is still sitting correctly.

 

 

Step 3 - Make the edges.  Carefully tread in the edges of the soil around the pond liner taking care not to un-level it.  Then you can use some old logs or stones or other material you already have to cover the edges of the liner or you can source something from a reclamation yard.  I already had some limestone that we had moved from a rockery that we dismantled to make room for the greenhouse.  These are not only for decoration but they also provide an excellent habitat and hiding place for frogs or other pond animals.  Another thing to consider if you use a pond liner that doesn't have natural shallows is to make sure there is something in there for animals to climb out onto.  This is important for emerging wildlife as well as those that accidentally fall in and need something to help them to crawl out.  I placed a large stone in one end of the pond to fulfil this purpose.

 

Step 4 - Fill it up.  Ordinarily you are supposed to let the pond fill with rain water gradually as this is offers better conditions for wildlife.  However, as you might have realised by now I was far too excited and couldn't wait so I filled it with water from the hose.  An alternative option would be to fill it using water from a water butt.  I placed some pebbles in the bottom of the pond which I already had from a pebbled area in my garden.  These offer further habitats for invertebrates. 

 

Step 5 - Plant life.  According to research the best place to source pond plants is from an already established pond (make sure you have permission).  Make sure that the plants you select are not invasive species and try to source native plants where possible.  Don't over crowd the pond.  I have a very small pond so I bought a small non-invasive lilly well suited to a small space.  I also bought a native rush and iris.  All of these plants not only oxygenate the water but they also provide places where larvae can climb out, dry out and change into winged insects.

 

Step 6 - Pond gazing.  Like star gazing.  Enjoy the pond, watch life develop and when it is established pond dip and see what you have made a home for.

 

Look after your pond.  During Autumn when the leaves are falling keep them out of the pond either by clearing them or by putting a layer of net over the top.  Take care not to let weed killer or fertilisers get into the pond.  Grow marginal plants around the edge to finish off the project and to make a green corridor for wildlife to move through.

 

If you want a truly upcycled pond there are plenty of ideas around.  Tyre ponds, butlers sinks, baths, half barrels, disused boats, or anything else that you have hanging around!

 

 

 

 

 

For more information about wildlife ponds, native species and how to attract frogs see the following links:

 

Froglife - All you need to know about frogs and newts

Royal Horticultural Society - hints and tips on ponds and other freshwater garden environments.