As for waterlillies not being much good for wildlife ? The frogs certainly take a different view.......the pads make excellent "seats" for them and they also provide shade. The pads rather than the frogs I mean
I don't follow your reasoning here. Shading a small pond with lily pads is of no particular wildlife benefit, especially given that relatively little feeds on the leaves. Aquatic invertebrates generally prefer vegetation with a complex underwater structure, providing a more 3D habitat, rather than the simple structure of floating lily leaves and dark, empty water underneath.
I am also with the keeping water mint in a basket! Mine is in a basket and twice a year I trim it (and the roots / runners that take over that quarter of the pond. It does smell good and the frogs are always hiding in it so they must be keen. Oh and when it flowers the bees love it!
To add some height I have Typha minima - dwarf bulrush, it only seems to be going up rather than out so doesn't take much space up but you often see finches clinging onto it dipping for water or waiting for the bird feeder nearby. You'll find the frogs here too. In the winter I leave the brown leafs (?) Uncut so the area doesn't feel bare.
Because my pond hasn't much edge (its a preformed deep ornamental) I have floating baskets to create some shade; in them I have a carnivorous pitcher bog plant and a Fibre optic ever green grass (can't remember the proper name) that wander around the pond in the breeze. I can't say what good the pitcher plant does for wildlife but you get lots of dragonflies using the ever green as a landing pad.
I do have a dwarf lilly but it only appears late in the season (May) and disappears long before the warm autumn days are over so I think my floating plants do more of the shading work! This could be because my pond is on the deep side and it takes a while for it to warm up. I might raise it on bricks this year to see if that helps if I can brave getting in the cold water with my snorkel.
In the final edge I have purple and yellow iris: they add some amazingly striking colours to the pond which is more for my pleasure but the bees show interest.
My hornwart seems bomb proof (I have fish that seem to think it a delicacy) and is where you'll find the frogs come mating time.
I too have a new pond and the only thing in it at the moment is water forget me not - can't remember the proper name. Thank you for all your suggestions too. I was going to put in a small water lily because it offers some shade and insects sit on the edge and sip water.
If your pond's small Grannybee, try and get plenty of planting round about, and linking it to a border or another planted area. If you can, create a boggy area which means you can grow more variety. A few well positioned rocks and gravel or logs sitting in/out the water will give insects a nice little landing strip too
I have a tiny pond in this garden, and I have a tiny water lily. The marginals are on a shelf with another sloping area which holds a couple of 'bog' plants and also a slope for access. It's well used already by the birds and hopefully other creatures in time. Whatever the size, you can create a little haven
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl Sorry for the delay in posting a photo, which shows the area around the pond. I do plan on letting this area go totally wild, as even the lawn is actually more clover (bees obviously love it) than grass, and I usually let it grow long. So any more info on what do do to encourage wildlife would be good!
Joking aside, I'm inclined to agree, but you may have other considerations for your lovely plot
My suggestion would be to link it with the border you have along the fence, using shrubs and perennials etc. That gives cover for all sorts of creatures to use the pond safely. Gradually blending it into the surroundings, rather than having it out on its own - if you see what I mean
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
As for waterlillies not being much good for wildlife ? The frogs certainly take a different view.......the pads make excellent "seats" for them and they also provide shade.
The pads rather than the frogs I mean
I don't follow your reasoning here. Shading a small pond with lily pads is of no particular wildlife benefit, especially given that relatively little feeds on the leaves. Aquatic invertebrates generally prefer vegetation with a complex underwater structure, providing a more 3D habitat, rather than the simple structure of floating lily leaves and dark, empty water underneath.
I am also with the keeping water mint in a basket! Mine is in a basket and twice a year I trim it (and the roots / runners that take over that quarter of the pond. It does smell good and the frogs are always hiding in it so they must be keen. Oh and when it flowers the bees love it!
To add some height I have Typha minima - dwarf bulrush, it only seems to be going up rather than out so doesn't take much space up but you often see finches clinging onto it dipping for water or waiting for the bird feeder nearby. You'll find the frogs here too. In the winter I leave the brown leafs (?) Uncut so the area doesn't feel bare.
Because my pond hasn't much edge (its a preformed deep ornamental) I have floating baskets to create some shade; in them I have a carnivorous pitcher bog plant and a Fibre optic ever green grass (can't remember the proper name) that wander around the pond in the breeze. I can't say what good the pitcher plant does for wildlife but you get lots of dragonflies using the ever green as a landing pad.
I do have a dwarf lilly but it only appears late in the season (May) and disappears long before the warm autumn days are over so I think my floating plants do more of the shading work! This could be because my pond is on the deep side and it takes a while for it to warm up. I might raise it on bricks this year to see if that helps if I can brave getting in the cold water with my snorkel.
In the final edge I have purple and yellow iris: they add some amazingly striking colours to the pond which is more for my pleasure but the bees show interest.
My hornwart seems bomb proof (I have fish that seem to think it a delicacy) and is where you'll find the frogs come mating time.
I hpe that helps
I too have a new pond and the only thing in it at the moment is water forget me not - can't remember the proper name. Thank you for all your suggestions too. I was going to put in a small water lily because it offers some shade and insects sit on the edge and sip water.
If your pond's small Grannybee, try and get plenty of planting round about, and linking it to a border or another planted area. If you can, create a boggy area which means you can grow more variety. A few well positioned rocks and gravel or logs sitting in/out the water will give insects a nice little landing strip too
I have a tiny pond in this garden, and I have a tiny water lily. The marginals are on a shelf with another sloping area which holds a couple of 'bog' plants and also a slope for access. It's well used already by the birds and hopefully other creatures in time. Whatever the size, you can create a little haven
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl Sorry for the delay in posting a photo, which shows the area around the pond.
I do plan on letting this area go totally wild, as even the lawn is actually more clover (bees obviously love it) than grass, and I usually let it grow long. So any more info on what do do to encourage wildlife would be good!
Thats a lovely sized garden Carpenter72, were you not tempted to make the pond even bigger? Looks like you have the space for it.
Always about size with you men LF......
Joking aside, I'm inclined to agree, but you may have other considerations for your lovely plot
My suggestion would be to link it with the border you have along the fence, using shrubs and perennials etc. That gives cover for all sorts of creatures to use the pond safely. Gradually blending it into the surroundings, rather than having it out on its own - if you see what I mean
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I like Carpenters's plan to let the area around the pond go wild.....what about a wildflower meadow?