In the absence of any pond-cleaning reports then I'll just report that our little pond is flourishing well this sunny weekend

Here's a view looking down the 'stream' (I promise to capture bathing birds one day)



What with the blanket-weed threatening to smother the fish I've covered the pond surface 80% with the much friendlier Duckweek from a natural pond, to shade from the sun (which 'feeds' the blanket-weed).

There are flowers appearing on some of the reeds and on the surface have appeared the Water Hawthorn flowers, white with a maroon speckle, and their oval leaves. The other leaves are of lilies coming up.

Thanks MabelJane. It's not too difficult to set up, but you need a pump that delivers the right amount of water for the pond size.

Visually our 'stream' does look very natural now, it attacts creeping plants which helps, and some of the bigger rocks now have moss on them. It attracts insects so the frogs sit there all night (if the pump is on). Sparrows, blackbirds and starlings bathe, doves and wood pigeons paddle in it. It also oxgenates the pond but the best thing is the 'babbling brook' sound which helps distract our ears from the hiss of the motorway  and the bypass (both 1 mile away)

We bought the house to be 'near the motorway', but now there's a busy bypass too and the motorway traffic has doubled 

Hallelujah! 

And The Lord looked down on His subjects and was mighty pleased at  their Endeavours and forthwith did say that all purchases of green wellies at Homebase would henceforth be free of the iniquitous Tax of the Merchants of VAT, whose presence in the Temples of Commerce is a Curse upon the land and An Abomination devoutly to be expunged, for it profits not the Pond Clearists nor the Simple Man but NuLabour, who are like the serpents of the earth, who slide on their bellies but profit not any man but themselves. 

Mmmm dinner!

A blonde was on vacation and driving through Darwin . She desperately wanted
to take home a pair of genuine crocodile shoes but was very reluctant to pay
the high prices the local vendors were asking. After becoming very
frustrated with the "no haggle on prices" attitude  of one of the
shopkeepers, the blonde shouted,

"Well then, maybe I'll just go out and catch my own crocodile, so I can get
a pair of shoes for free"

The shopkeeper said with a sly, knowing smile, "Little lady, just go and
give it a try"!

The blonde headed out toward the river, determined to catch a crocodile!
Later in the day, as the shopkeeper is driving home, he pulls over to the
side of the bank where he spots the same young woman standing waist deep in
the murky water, shotgun in hand.

Just then, he spots a huge 3 metre croc swimming rapidly toward her. With
lightning speed, she takes aim, kills the creature and hauls it onto the
slimy banks of the river. Lying nearby were 7 more of the dead creatures,
all lying on their backs. The shopkeeper stood on the bank, watching in
silent amazement. The blonde struggled and flipped the Croc onto its back.
Rolling her eyes heavenward and screaming in great frustration, she shouts
out.......


"SH!T, SH!T, SH!T, THIS ONE'S BAREFOOT, TOO"!

Some flowers that have come out here in May:

the first rose, don't know the variety,





Knotweed in the bog garden of the pond, the variety might be Polygonum superbum
though my spikes are smallish 4" (yes, it says superbum in the pond book 





another plant in the bog, I've never identified it, it just appeared and grows every year,





Ha, ha in the Knotweed photo you can see the other two in the background! I can also see
a little pink flower, off to investigate that one.....


John