Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Our pond

In case anyone is wondering, this is what our garden pond looks like (sort of). There is a view from the north, looking over the birch logpile (beloved of Lesser Stag Beetles). Note the abundance of Water Soldier (which I love, as it seems to be the dragonflies' favourite plant), with a mix of other aquatic and semi-aquatic plants and the odd logpile around the edge.

Then a view to the north, toward the birch logpile (with bananas added for colour...)...

And finally, to Mt Weedon, the flower-rich mound built of debris from the digging of the pond (note edge of pond):

5 comments:

Rahul seth said...

I Find really beautiful and mesmerizing.I hav set up it as my desktop wallpaper.thx

Dale Forbes said...

that is one really cool pond you have there. do you get lots of birds passing by? frogs chorussing?

Mike Weedon said...

Thanks, Dale. I am totally in love with my pond which is like an attention black hole in the garden – it is almost impossible to look at anything else. We have Common Frog, Common Toad and Smooth Newt (and I hope for Great Crested Newt). I've recorded 14 species of dragonfly visiting it (which is not bad in the UK, where dragonfly diversity is very low). We also have such neat beasties as Water Measurers. Birds visiting to drink and bathe include the usual garden species, plus I've had Linnet, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, several Mallards and Grey Heron coming to look for amphibians. All not bad, in my opinion, for an essentially urban/suburban garden.
Mike

Dale Forbes said...

bwah, it looked good but I did not realise it was that good. what is your favourite dragonfly/damselfly?

growing up as a very young teenager, our neighbours had a little fish pond for Koi right outside their house. At that time we lived in sprawling suburbia about 20km (of city and suburbs) from the coast. one day half of their prize Koi disappeared. The police were called. The neighbourhood boys were questioned. It was only the next day that the young African Fish Eagle came back to try claim the other half of its meal. Now that was a garden tick. it almost counted as two ;-)

Mike Weedon said...

My fave drag is Broad-bodied Chaser, which I have always had a soft spot for and I'm pleased to say was the first dragonfly to honour our newl;y-dug pond with a visit and even egg-laying, back in 2007 when I dug it.
Mike