Water is for Relaxing Around

A recent running theme in the blog has been the art of relaxation. I have made reference to how difficult it can be when you know that there are jobs you can usefully be getting along with, or better still, ticking off your list. By contrast our feline friends have the knack of making idleness seem effortless. At this time of the year it is the shady spots which are most favoured for the restful moments and when the garden umbrellas are shifted around on an hourly basis for the maximum comfort levels.

The shady spots will change with course of the day. It is critical that the gardener understands his aspect and how many hours of direct sunshine each part of the garden will get each day. This will also change with the seasons and the planting schemes really must take this into account. There is very little point trying to grow sun loving plants in deep shade and it is equally fruitless planting your woodlanders out in the open.

Top tip: before making an expensive mistake and investing in serious plant purchases make sure you understand the aspect of your garden, it is as important as knowing your soil type and depth.

It is for this reason that the planting around the lower pond, in the shade of the neighbours property (for much of the afternoon) has been restricted. The theme is mostly foliage but this does not preclude some splashes of colour and I particularly like the muted deep reds and pinks at the far end of the pond. The photographs show how the petunia (Tidal Wave Red Velour) and the astilbes work well together and give a nice lift to the far border.

The colour scheme at the pond end of the patio is muted and restful. The bench by the pond is one of the most popular spots in the garden and with the calming sound of the moving water it can be quite blissful. But a glance to the left will reveal the multi coloured containers and dazzle of the summer pots. These take advantage of increased light levels, which might only be a couple of extra hours per day in summer but it does make a difference. 

The water lily just gets enough daylight hours

Bench and conservatory door can be seen on the right

Light and shade

Enjoying the Garden Together

   

upper pond

As 2019 approaches the final few days it is naturally a time for a little reflection. While this is not the reflection of the winter sun in the upper pond but rather what has worked well and what has worked less than well this year.

I will post about these in coming days but reflection takes time and a cup of Bovril to do properly. My last top tip of the year is to make time to enjoy your garden at all times of the year!

Of course all this hard work of sitting, planning and contemplating is so much easier with a little company. Mili and Hecate were quick to join me this morning and unusually seemed to enjoy each others company nearly as much.

Microclimates

Hecate and Mili in the Shade

Cats have good instincts when it comes to enjoying the garden, they might gravitate to the warm and sunny places or they can be adept at seeking out the cooler and shady spots. 

Hecate by the lower pond

Over recent weeks the summer temperatures have meant that Hecate and Mili have been found in the cooler corners. This might be in the micro climate of the underside of shady shrub or in the vicinity of the running water that feeds back into the lower pond.

The welcome cooling effect of a body of water has been exploited in warm climates for centuries. The evaporation and release of negative ions into the air cools and calms you. The thermal inertia of water - it takes a long time to heat up and cool down - means the pond has still to heat up while the rest of the patio is starting to bake. Although this is most noticeable with larger bodies of water, even modest sized water features do have an effect.

Alternatively, water will be radiating warmth after the rest of the garden has cooled. This is why putting buckets of water into cold greenhouses or conservatories will help to nudge the temperature gauge up that extra all-important degree or so at night during the early weeks of spring.

Mili by the Lower Pond

 So well done Hecate and Mili for having an instinctive understanding of microclimates!

Details

This picture encapsulates so much of what makes gardening fascinating, the detail. Take a moment to look closely and it is surprising what you will notice when looking around a garden, it might be your own, a friends or a show piece stately home. I think most gardeners have an eye for the detail and we all notice different details. It is not simply what might catch our eye, but also what we look for in an outdoor space.

At first glance it might appear an ordinary photograph of the upper pond. I might examine the scene and think of the work that needs doing tomorrow. But a closer inspection might reveal something different.

In the background is a tub with one of our dahlias "Edge of Joy". A candidate for my plant of the month but there are not quite enough blooms open as yet. It is the first time I have put a tub in this part for the garden and I think I rather like it up here. But the beauty of a tub of plants , it can always be moved!

A little while later a further detail caught my eye around the edge of the pond:

the frog "picnic" in the sunshine. If you look closely you will notice an army of five frogs enjoying the summer sunshine!

Labour Saving Gardening (part 2)

I must state at the outset that I am an avid fan of having water in a garden. No matter what the size of your plot there will be room for a water feature of some sort. The sound of moving water is so relaxing while the majority of features are a real boon for all manner of wildlife. Consequently, my next top tip for a labour saving garden is
                                                 install a water feature
and in most instances, the larger the better.

While some people may be put off by the initial task of designing and building your pond, once this has been completed to your satisfaction, a water feature is remarkable low maintenance. For instance the pond above, close to the patio requires an annual maintenance clean up, including servicing the pond and its filter. This at most will be an afternoons work. Every few years the lillies may need re-potting or some new marginal plants adding but after this there is little effort required, other than scooping out any excess weed or oxygenator growth.

The fact that we do not keep fish in the pond does reduce the effort but this decision was made at the very beginning as the ponds are modest in size and the two cats do not really need any more distractions. The balance of plants and water is not a difficult task to achieve and so we rarely have any issue with discoloured or cloudy water.

In reality, I am confident in saying that a pond is the biggest time saving addition you can ever make to your garden. However, you might have to factor in the time consumed by just idling by the water and watching the wildlife go about their business. 

Weather v Climate

The recent spell of hot weather has been quite a challenge for the nation's gardeners. Here in the north west we have been warned to expect a hosepipe ban at the start of next month. Given that we are in the wettest part of England with the Pennines receiving huge amounts of rainfall each year (often in excess of 2000 mm pa) it seems rather strange that we are one of the first regions (Northern Ireland apart) to have such restrictions on domestic usage.  

I can only assume that there is very serious mismanagement of this vital resource by the water company responsible for our supply. It is quite clear that the infrastructure is in need of proper maintenance. The capture and storage of the autumn, winter and spring rainfall must be urgently reviewed. Why do we have less reservoirs then we did 25 years ago when demand has increased? The profits extracted from the over charged consumers must be investigated and the money used for vital reinvestment in the infrastructure.

Mili by the lower pond

However, in the meantime we must still be sensible. Take a leaf out of Mili's book, keep an eye on your pond water levels. Top up in regular but small amounts, thus avoiding the need for a hosepipe. Brown water might be available (if not contaminated with soapy chemicals). It is important to remember that the wildlife is dependent on your pond. Lawns are hardy and will survive prolonged periods of no rain but your baskets and pots will not. Newly planted specimens will need water for the first few weeks but well established plants particularly larger shrubs and small trees are a much lower priority. 

Mili conserves her energy

It is quite ironic that we might have designed our garden spaces to cope with the increased rainfall that has been the trend over the past decade. Putting the right plant for the right place, (as advocated by Beth Chatto, undoubtedly one of the most influential British garden writers of the last half-century) is now accepted wisdom. 

However, when a semi drought arrives the garden press is full of articles about the benefits of Mediterranean planting schemes! My top tip is definitely, prepare for weather of all types but make long term plans based on climate. Let's hope the water companies are listening as well.

More Reflections

I just could not resist sharing another lovely reflection. This time it is in the lower pond, by the patio and is the first water lily of the year to open out. The tumbling water can be seen in the background but it is worth remembering that water lilies do not really like disturbed water conditions. As you can see the lily in this pond is far enough away from the stream of falling water and the reflection would not be as clear if the water was rippled.

However, for those people who have larger ponds with filtration systems it is apparently perfectly fine for the lilies to have moving water so long as it is not "disturbed" with excessive surface motion or splashing.

Reflections

Dark and mysterious the water in the upper pond has the appearance of a black mirror. The Virginia Creeper and the Soft Shield Fern are reflected as clear as crystal on the surface of the water. The little white "confetti" specks are only fallen petals from the laburnum.

Top tip: to achieve this effect it it not necessary to use the black dye products available on the market, even though some are assured to be perfectly wildlife friendly. I would advocate just keeping a healthy balance of plant life, in particular ensure you have the right amount of oxygenators for your size of water feature.

Pond Maintenance

      

The lower pond is, once again, teeming with interest. I am happy to say that the division of the water lilies and their re-potting has been a total success. However, with the lily pads and oxygenating plants there is a danger that the pond could get a little over crowded.

I like to aim for approximately half the surface area of the main pool to be clear of vegetation. This seems an ideal ratio for the health of the plants and the wildlife who share the environment in this corner of the garden. In practice it means regularly spending a couple of  minutes to redress the balance, mostly with the extraction of excess weed and any lily pad that has passed its best.

Top tip: although it only takes a few moments to tidy up the pond keep on top of the job otherwise the bindweed and duck weed can build up into a nuisance.

Renovations

Repair work to the upper pond has been carried out and the small fountain is operational once again. Although only switched on occasionally it is a relaxing feature of the upper garden. A new filter and replacement waterproof connector have been installed but not before some of the armoured cable had been dug out and now needs disguising once again. Water features are such a delight in a garden of any scale and surprisingly labour saving for the time hungry!

This pond has the appearance of a well, it is now weathered nicely and fits comfortably next to the seating area. The depth of water in the centre is ample for a variety of water lilies which have been temporarily removed and will be split and re-potted in the next few days. The depth near the edges is much less and has submerged and disguised material to allow wildlife easy access into and out of the water. So while it might appear like a well it is in fact much more interesting and wildlife friendly

This is an area of the garden for which I have some major plans this year. The companion seat needs to be replaced (despite rigorous treatment and covering up every winter!), the neighboring beds will be replanted and the area which serves as the hospital area for ailing specimens will have to be relocated. Is it only me (a penny conscious Yorkshire man) who has a hospital bed that seems to be way out of proportion to the rest of the garden?