Kerole's Pond Project

3 Jun '08 7:44 pm

I have been prompted by several of you to show our pond project in progress. As I've mentioned before, the pond is a hairy beast of a thing but we are slowly beating it into shape. Last year we had the bottom scraped - it was very overgrown with grass and weeds, and re-shaped the edges.

I have in mind for the finished product, a place of serenity and calm, a slightly organised wildnerness (!), with paths and a bridge, and a woodland feel. The plants should not be overly flowery or bright - let the foliage do the talking. The pond is very much in our view from the house but it is only a part of a much bigger picture. I don't want the eye drawn unecessarily to some splash of leary colour (aside from fabulous autumn leaves!).

4 Jun '08 7:07 am

And I spy a spot for some gunnera... What is the other lovely big umbrella-like leaf in the third pic? I've read of it and seen pictures somewhere... (in Goose's garden??) but I don't think I've ever seen it in the flesh. In planting for reflection make certain to leave areas of low and grassy growth against the water in some places - look how effective the anchoring of the willows in turf is in your first pic. And I love the fact that the 'perfect reflection' in fact does not include the gate. Some advice: claim that you planned it that way. It will be very difficult to disprove... Wink

Now that you've figured how easy it is - keep posting pictures!

4 Jun '08 7:34 am

This is an exciting project---may we all chime in?
I love seeing a glimpse of your home reflected in the water-i hope you will have low-growing plants by the water there,between it and the house, so the reflection can still be seen.
Dixie.

4 Jun '08 9:28 am

Jack, those plants are Ligularias (Ligularia tussilaginea 'Gigantea') - they are sometimes known as tractor seats. They were one of the first things to go in around the pond and have never looked back. They have had to contend with willow roots, mud in the winter and rock hard dryness in the summer. They seem very happy. I love the big, shiny leaves but the flowers are a bit naff. They are bright yellow scruffy daisy things - they are in bud now.

I also have some Ligularia dentata 'Britt-Marie Crawford'. This has been so heavily promoted here in NZ that I finally caved in and got a few. For starters it is not evergreen. It also burns in the sun so I have moved it under the outer edges of the willow for some protection during summer. The flowers are the same scruffy daisy things but in a violent shade of orange that clashes horribly with the dark blackish leaves. I still like this Ligularia though, but I would take tractor seats any day. They always draw favourable comments.

Dixie - of course you may chime in! The more the merrier!

4 Jun '08 10:22 pm

We uncovered a large log under all the grass - what a find! It is now the centre of attention beside the path that runs around the pond (this is a grass path - the paving material has yet to be determined). The log has a fabulous tea tree next to it. This is the inspiration for much of the pond's colour scheme - deep mahogany. I like it with lime green. The log pics are before I began to plant around it.

5 Jun '08 1:40 am

What a lovely name, especially if one can remember when tractor seats actually DID look like this! I've read up about them - they should thrive for me... I will see if I can track any down, but there is almost no network in this country for unusual plants. A ligularia recently came on the (garden centre) market. I've managed to keep mine going but only just. Or better: it has only just managed to keep going despite my neglect. But NEXT YEAR things will be different - I intend resigning from teaching as from December; it is keeping me at school for a 55 hour week at the moment... Yes the flowers of ligularia are rather scruffy, but I love the unexpectedness of the combination. I've not yet seen the local version in flower.

In fact reading your latest post, you strike me as (like me!) a bit of a horticultural snob. So I heartily recommend a little book I've treasured for years. If nothing else it reminds me that this is NOT England. It is called Yew and Non-Yew: gardening for Horticultural Climbers by James Bartholomew and published by Century Books in 1996. It includes wonderful lines like "The Yew ethos abominates imitation. Pretension loathes pretence." and "The Yew gardener loves flowers as long as they are very small, or green or brown." Oops. That is why I coloured-up my panorama in my last post on autumn in my garden: got to balance the Yew and the Non-Yew! Would a plant called Tractor Seats be considered Yew? Does the Queen wear headscarves? Oh my - whatever you do, don't get caught with a plant called "Lounge Recliner"!

5 Jun '08 1:42 am

Lovely.

5 Jun '08 6:39 am

What great ideas,Kerole.
I really like your colour combinations-they will look stunning when it all comes together!
Kahikatea look terrific in natural groups too,and provide good height.I have a picture somewhere of them growing near water so will try to find it.
Dixie.

5 Jun '08 9:25 am

Ah Jack, sadly I have been refered to as a bit of a gardening snob once or twice in the past! As your book says I am the Yew kind of gardener...but I am working on it. One of the reasons I like Moosey's garden and gardening ideals is that she pays little attention to rules and the results are wonderful. I'm not sure what I'd do with a plant called 'lounge recliner' - perhaps put it behind a group of shrubs out of site, where it could be enjoyed in private?!

I'm suprised SA has few ligularias - they would do well for you. I also have a 'Crested Leopard' that is famed for its spotted wavy-edged leaves. Mine is a sad looking wee thing with a tiny spot on each leaf. Not quite how the pictures look!

Dixie - I didn't know Kahikateas liked being by water... I would love to see the pic if you can find it.

5 Jun '08 7:25 pm

Kahikateas thrive next to water.They are in pockets throughout the Waikato,where farmers have retained parts of the original swampy areas on their farms.They look their best in groupings.
You can sometimes buy'specials' of native trees and plants from DOC or similar I think.

Kerole's Pond Project

Kerole's Pond Project

Lovely, Kerole!

exciting

Tractor Seats

More Pond Pics...

Tractor Seats and more upmarket furnishings...

ideas

Gardening Snobbery

kahikateas