We're allowed in parks and woods here in the Hague, everyone keeping their distance but elsewhere in the city a lack of discipline that keeps us away. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
The continuing struggle between file size limits and image quality rather spoilt my punchline by rendering it illegible. I think you thought the sign was the bogroll, understandably Maybe this is better?!?!
If you google it, I think you’ll find you can move it in it’s dormant phase, Oct-Mar, and need to retain as much of the root ball as possible
It's nothing to look at, just a small hessian sack with some strips of packing foam cut to fit. I then made a few small holes in the cover and dropped a few watercress shoots through - I've got a couple dozen others rooting in the kitchen which I'll add to it. The watercress ought to do well, with the roots hanging below the raft as they take nitrates from the water and keeps it clean for fish (which produce the nitrates in the first place) and should out-compete green algae. They should hide the raft eventually. I've just installed a small pump and filter which has a built in UV light to kill algae so the water is starting to clear - I can see about half way down now. I didn't want to have any pump originally but it oxygenates the water nicely and isn't too detrimental to the aquatic life so far. The pump has a foam pre-filter which I've taken out, but I'll put it back once the water is clear. I've still got to cut some of the coping slabs and then I can cement them down and the pond will be finished. I only dug it last year so it'll be a while before it's mature. It looks quite formal, but it's deceptive because the above ground wall is rough stone with wildflower seeds sown around the outside perimeter so lots of cover and nooks and crannies plus easy for critters to climb up and there are lots of rocks on the pond shelves that allow access in and out of the water. We've already had damselfly and dragonflies hatch this year. I was watching the adults laying their eggs last year so knew there were several about. Water skaters and whirlygig beetles are in there in numbers plus diving beetles and snails. Currently 4 or 5 frogs in permanent residence and shed loads of tadpoles, both toad and frog. I spend hours just sat on a chair in the sunshine watching the wildlife when I can.
Dog walking yesterday and Mrs No7 saw these and then saw them on the internet. Anyone know what they are as she is doing my head in as she thinks I am Percy Thrower all of a sudden
love it. great idea. I used to have a big pump, until last September when I cut the power cable trying to clip the ivy out . I was worried about the pond life but it is still thriving and I don’t think I need it. Algae needs sorting but the pump didn’t make much difference anyway. I’m going to try your idea
Wait until september, prepare a place (dig a hole and fill it with water)! with a bit of shadow, if you can divide the roots (spade through the middle) replant the two pieces. Next year, you,ve got double as many!!!
My pond has cleared now, I've diverted the inlet so that it flows behind and under the watercress so there's hardly any visible surface current and it looks like a mirror when there's no wind. Fish are getting used to me now, and will come for food when I put my hand in the water
This is what happened to my squash plants after I got overconfident and planted them out at the weekend - one late frost is all it took. The centres seem to be OK, so we fleeced them over last night...replacements planted just in case. All the squash and most of the courgettes look like that. I'm growing a giant pumpkin this year too, using a seed from a 791lb pumpkin. Luckily that one is still in the greenhouse
snap.... although yours look healthier than mine and three bean plants. Luckily I have 7 bean plants on my kitchen window sill. tomato plant gone too. Two more in kitchen. need to sell the idea of a green house to the wife
8 x 6 greenhouse, cost me 150 quid. Best Garden investment ever. Tomatoes and chillis plus all the bedding plants and the veg that's not been planted out yet are all thriving. My windowsills aren't big enough
This morning I got a bit excited as the farmer ploughed his field and attracted 10 red kits and a handful of buzzards. They were landing on the field feeding behind him. Amazing sight. Sadly I didn’t have a decen camera, just my phone. I wish I could have got a better shot looking up at the sky with them all circling.