06/08/2014

Working on the Wildlife Ponds.

The hard work has been continuing in the garden since my last post, and I am now seriously ready to put my feet up for a while...or until the Autumn//Winter bedding plants and bulbs arrive anyway.  I tackled the wildlife ponds, some of which had become very overgrown, and ended up completely rearranging this area at the back of the garden.


I'm not sure the frogs were impressed, they were definitely giving me the evil eye at one point and this gang of three looked set to pounce!




I'm happy to say they've settled back in nicely after the changes and I counted eight in there this morning. Not bad for a pond made from a plant pot!  Anyway, onto the plants. Once I'd spent a couple of hours clearing the area, I reset the slates around the pond and added a Lythrum Salicaria to the back of the area. I'd not come across this plant before, but its purple spires are very pretty and it enjoys moist soil so should be right at home here.


I left the Campanula and Carex in place, as well as Hedgy the Hog, who is looking a little worse for wear now but has been in the garden for years and I can't bear to part with him. He looks rather good once the Campanula starts to grow over him and you just see his face peeking out.



I've been a huge Heuchera fan since I started adding them to my garden a couple of years ago, and there were a few that were not being shown off very well so I moved those to the pond area and added a new one too. This is Strawberry Swirl, and it has the prettiest dainty pink flowers and ruffled leaves.




Ginger Peach is nestled among Key Lime Pie, with some Ajuga Black Scallop at the back to break things up.





Heucherella Sweet Tea has been hidden under a mound of other plants for a while, but is starting to look better now I've moved it. Heuchera Paris next to it only has one leaf as I've ravaged it for cuttings, which are coming along nicely in the coldframe. I'm sure it will bounce back soon.


And Lime Marmalade is the last and such a gorgeous green. It really brightens up the area.


There will be splashes of colour with various bulbs and bedding plants going in soon, although I'm really happy with it just now.


The other two wildlife pond areas just needed a bit of tidying up. The Carex and Hardy Geranium had really taken over in the woodland ponds, so I dug up quite a lot of it which was no mean feat I can tell you. The roots for both might be fairly shallow, but they're thick and really take some digging, if I fell on my backside once I fell a dozen times, it's lucky I'm shielded from all the neighbours there! There's not much to see in these ponds at the moment other than frogs, as the pond plants such as Marsh Marigold and Bog Iris are really the stars of the show and have now finished flowering for the year. At least you can see the water though.


The front of border wildlife pond  (there is water in there somewhere!) has been quite spectacular with masses of  Pickerel Hyacinths during July which are just starting to die off now. I didn't have to do too much here except trim back the Lamium and dig up some Hardy Geranium that had spread too far. I also rearranged this whole border in front of the shed, hence the many bare spaces. They won't stay bare for long though!


I hope you enjoyed the little ponds update. I'm off for a lemongrass latte and a rest now :-) .

40 comments:

  1. Paula girl this has been such a great post ! .. I have to admit I am so jealous of your ponds and especially the frogs .. I would do just about anything to have frogs in my gardens .. we have a water feature with the basalt tower rock but no ponds because the raccoon problem .. well they destroy anything pond related. Even our micro pond that had 2 goldfish provided a treat for them .. it makes me crazy but you know when you are beat so we just adapt and I live vicariously through other gardeners that have ponds and frogs like you do (btw .. those are great pictures!!!) .. the meme is not demanding and you share many plants with me (heucheras,geraniums,ajuga ...) quite a few in fact!
    So please add what ever you would like if you drop in on the meme. You are most welcomed!
    Joy
    Mail me a frog please ?? LOL ...
    I bought yet another plant today .. they are all sitting on the deck waiting to be PLANTED now !

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    1. Those darn raccoons are such a problem for you Joy aren't they. I'm glad we don't have to contend with them here, I just have to watch out for the heron nabbing my fish and the cats catching the baby frogs! Lol, to mailing you a few.

      As for the new plant, it is totally allowed, I give my permission as a fellow plant addict ;-) .

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  2. Paula, your Heucherella Sweet Tea is so sweet! I love the Heucherellas but they don't grow well in my garden, have no idea why. You've made nice pond and the frogs love it!
    There are some frogs in my pond as well, the problem is in winter cold days when frogs freeze in ice.

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    1. I usually float a few tennis balls on top of the wildlife ponds in winter Nadezda, that way if the pond freezes I can just take the balls out and let some air into the ponds. It seems to work quite well.

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  3. Sorting a pond is never an easy job, but you seem to have done it really well.
    That is a really good frog count........

    I really envy you being able to grow Heuchera. With my ongoing rabbit problem I would not even consider it, as they would be cropped overnight.
    When we first moved here I planted several, now all a distant memory :(

    Your garden is looking so pretty............so pleased you are keeping the hedgehog :)

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    1. There's always something out there to eat the plants we love isn't there Cheryl, it's such a nuisance. Luckily no rabbit problem here, but I have noticed a few holes in one Heuchera, so something has been feasting on it.

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  4. I love your little ponds! I am glad the frogs settled in after the remodeling! They were indeed giving you the evil eye. I really like the colors and textures you have here. I have moved my heuchera several times, and I am not sure we have found their final home yet. I think they need more moisture than what I have been providing.

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    1. Yes, a couple of the Heucheras I moved were from quite dry areas of the garden Deb, and they definitely weren't doing as well as the ones in the damper, cool areas. Hopefully I've found the perfect spot for them now.

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  5. I don't know how you manage all that work in this heat Paula - but you are doing a grand job getting everything sorted and the ponds are looking pretty good now. I haven't seen any frogs in our garden for ages - they are all hiding somewhere.

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    1. Lol Elaine, I have a lovely tan to show for working in all the sunshine!

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  6. That's a lot of frigs for a small pond - they do tend to stare don't they?

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  7. That's a job well done, I think you've earnt that lemongrass latte. My own little wildlife pond needs a good sort out, it's amazing how well the marsh marigold enjoys it, a little too well as it's just about taken over, it needs a good cut back. Nice to see the frogs enjoying your pond, that's what it's all about afterall.

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    1. It does take over doesn't it Jo, I have ended up with it in every pond, given lots away and still have some growing on in the coldframe. Time to start being ruthless and throwing some away I think.

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  8. I think water adds so much to a garden, and you have it! Love your garden decor and the frogs too!

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    1. I love the water Tatyana, I could sit staring at the frogs and fish all day!

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  9. A most enjoyable post, and lovely photos. All gardens and plots should have a pond, so well done having three! Flighty xx

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  10. You are powering through all the garden tasks aren't you, it really is paying off, everything looks wonderful. You have some beautiful plants, I am glad you put a pic of Lythrum Salicaria up as I've had this for years and have never known what it is. Your frogs are brilliant, just goes to show how a little water attracts the wildlife doesn't it.xxx

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    1. It's always great to discover what that unnamed plant lurking in the garden is, glad my post helped Snowbird. Great to hear you've had the plant for years as well, as it sounds like a worthy investment.

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  11. I am just tremendously jealous of your wildlife pond! I like your Heuchera collection as well, and your garden art/animal figures.

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    1. Thanks, I really am becoming addicted to the Heucheras, I can see my collection getting out of hand if I carry on like this ;-) .

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  12. I love, love Heucheras! I had some lovely ones at my old house. For some reason, they don't seem as happy here. Your pond is lovely. I can imagine sitting down near it and reading a good book. Cute photos of the frogs!

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    1. I have a bench in front of the woodland ponds Janet and it's great to see all the comings and goings of the wildlife.

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    2. Sorry, I meant Beth, not sure where Janet came from, lol.

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  13. I think your pond is great, something I have thought about for years but never actually done. Heucheras look great but I have very mixed results here, one thing I do know from experience is that they need their own space, the slightest hint of them being smothered by a more vigorous neighbour and they give up the ghost.

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    1. Yes, that's exactly what I discovered Rick, they are much happier when they are not being shaded out.

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  14. Your pond looks so charming. It's very healthy too, to have so many frogs! Heucheras and Heucherellas often have delicious-sounding names. Delightful foliage colors and contrasts.

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    1. Thank you Sweetbay. Yes, beautiful names for the plants, Strawberry Swirl has to be my favourite, it just sings of summer!

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  15. Wow... they look so natural. I love it. So many colors of foliage and flowers, very interesting! Your blog is so interesting, catching my eyes. Love to follow your great posts!

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  16. Your ponds look like such a tranquil places, and your plants look so healthy! You did a nice job of selecting such an interesting variety of plants. Heucheras are one of my favorite plants, and they come in so many colorful varieties. (Thank you for visiting my blog, and I am so happy to have found your lovely blog!)

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    1. I'm loving the Heucheras too Dorothy, I can see that they might become a bit of an obsession if I'm not careful :-) .

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  17. Pretty ponds! I wish I had some frogs at my garden, yours are so cute.

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    1. I love the frogs in the garden, they literally are everywhere!

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  18. You certainly deserve that latte! I've always wanted a pond--seeing your frogs makes me want one even more. I do have Heucheras, though, and like you, I can't seem to get enough. Moving some where all their contrasting colors are more visible was a great idea and really shows them off.

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  19. Your ponds are inspiring, the frogs are really loving it. I got soured on ponds by marauding raccoons, otherwise I would love to have some. I love the Heuchera and Ajuga combinations, they go great together.

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    1. I'm so glad we don't get raccoons here Hannah, it seems like they are a major pest in your gardens there.

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  20. Beautiful garden, the plants look so healthy! How do you keep the slugs away from them? All my plants are the best mealfor the snails and slugs.

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    1. Hello Aga. Oh, they do get munched on by the slugs and snails unfortunately. They ate all my Dhalias earlier in the year.

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