Thanks @Papi Jo the pond is 2.3 metres by 3.2 metres and yes I took quite a few photos of the process. I had the idea and researched it and told my husband I’d be able to do it all without his help ….. but after about 15 mins of trying to dig out our clay soil and I gave up and he did the digging 😂. I didn’t realise how much soil there would be so we ended up hiring a skip to get rid of it all. But apart from that hiccup at the beginning I did the rest and I’m so pleased with it. I’m passionate about wildlife so wanted plants around the outside that would be good for bees etc and provide shelter for wildlife and it’s proved to be perfect for that. I’ve seen dragonflies, damselflies, hundreds of bees, the birds bathe in it, our visiting hedgehogs drink from it and there is a lovely vole that has taken up residence in the border too. When I planted the final plant I was initially disappointed as it looked too neat, all in a row but I knew it would mature and bush up in the end … and it has.
You certainly made a very neat job of the liner,a womans touch there @CDouch,How exciting that mustve been with all your plants lined up to go in. Ponds are so fascinating,I wish a frog or two would visit mine,tiny though it is😊
The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
Ha ha thanks @Valley Gardener I was given some frog spawn by a friend and watched it develop into tadpoles and then little froglets so I’m really hoping a couple come back next year to breed 🤞
This is turning into a white floofy bed (a techincal term). The filipendula and milk parsley went over fast, with the heat. Now Thalictrum, phlox and hollyhocks are to the fore. Thals gaining some height this year and I hope will continue in altitude over the years.
Newly planted behind are Rosa New Dawn and Malvern Hills, which should add to the pale floof in coming years, though a PITA to deadhead, at the back of the bed.
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Why I love the white thal, esp in bud:
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The white hesperis (right) has done so well - going since April. I've just been cutting back after flowering and it comes right back. I had no idea it did that. Shows no signs of slowing down.
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I'm getting my first decent apple crop from the espalier apple - eight years after planting. The fruit are not coming away in the hand, but they are going floury. Probably best picked early July. 🙄 I will prune back in Sept. Peeps on the forum have been very helpful in making the esp to thrive. Many thanks.
Your Thalictrum is obviously happy @Fire. Is it in a sunny or shaded position? Which variety is it? I was going for the lilac-mauve delavayi but might have changed my mind now.
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
@VictorMeldrew They are delavayi 'Album', from Burncoose. It's kind of hard to describe their position accurately. It's a narrow north facing terrace garden. The light and sun to the bed changes dramatically through the year. Equinox to equinox is gets morning to early avo direct sun. In the afternoon lots of light. I wouldn't call it "shady".
As a herbaceous plant, my main concern was slugs nixing the plant's return, but all made it through and do seem happy. Sharp drainage but loads of manure added in the springs. I ran out of space this spring and have one growing in a pot. That is happy too, though I have been away and it needs re-staking. Thals have to be one of my fav ever plants.
I may try it in the shady front garden and see what the slugs make of it. I have a raised bed which is bone dry for a long list of reasons. Not much of interest is happy with such dry shade through the summer - June to Oct. I might end up putting in a pond there, in the raised bed, and surround with Rozanne.
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From left to right: overgrown specimen of Aconitum napellus (> 2m high); Clematis 'Forever Friends' and Thalictrum delavayi 'Album' in ful bloom.
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful