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Wildlife pond build

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  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    Yes our MM is going great guns. Just put a few in as an experiment to see how they'd fare alongside the stream, and they're loving it. Will get more soon! Astilbe seem to be happy there too, but not, alas, my Gunnera magellanica :(

    Didn't realise purple loosestrife could go in the water - have an empty pond at the moment so might try one in there.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    The loosestrife, primroses and quaking grass are all in the pond.  Loosestrife in the bottom picture. 






    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The flag irises are the ones you need to be wary of, Phil, but I can highly recommend the little chrysographes ones for any damp areas.  :)
    There are quite a few sibirica varieties which will suit the boggy bit too - and they're not invasive. Lots of nurseries sell them.
    Carexes are good for the damp bits too. Avoid that invasive one though - pendula. The variegated ones will do well there. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Phil_j_83Phil_j_83 Posts: 31
    That's a great looking pond Lyn! 

    Thanks Fairygirl. I think I probably have some flag irises, however with the bog garden being rather limited in size and 'fake', I'm hoping I can keep it fairly well controlled. Well fingers crossed anyway!  :#
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    Very nice. What's the one I've circled in red? Is that another iris?




  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    Fairygirl said:
    The flag irises are the ones you need to be wary of, Phil, but I can highly recommend the little chrysographes ones for any damp areas.  :) 
    Are all the chrysographes non-invasive? OH likes irises, but the flags that we inherited are getting a bit too much!
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    edited March 2019
    I don’t know what it’s called, it has fluffy  type sead heads, although it doesn’t spread. I’ve got it in a big container and although it’s grown into a big clump it hasn’t spread anywhere else. 
    I could send you a root if you like. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The chrysographes are delightful and non invasive, although I'd be quite happy for them to be invasive!
    Dark, velvety flowers. They get to about 15 inches or so. Late May into June for them here, but possibly earlier further south.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    Fairygirl said:
    The chrysographes are delightful and non invasive, although I'd be quite happy for them to be invasive!
    Dark, velvety flowers. They get to about 15 inches or so. Late May into June for them here, but possibly earlier further south.

    I'll start looking out for them, thanks. I did once, many moons ago, try to grow the dwarf irises, but they just ended up as slug food so I gave up. Just ordered Beth Chatto's book for damp places so I'll have to see what she has to say about the chrysographes, all new to me.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The dwarf ones are  different again, DGMan. They tend to dimish over time, so each year you'll find there are fewer and fewer of them. If you get a few years out of a bundle of them, that's quite good. A wee bit like lots of tulip varieties.

    I love them, but haven't had any for a few years now. 
    Might be tempted in the autumn again, now that you've mentioned them  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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