Patio Pond

[Tringa]

Earlier in this thread I suggested how you could clear the slime form your pond. I'm now going to suggest you don't - don't you just love advice like this?

If there is not much and as you say the frogs don't mind it you could leave the pond and see what next year brings.

The plants are not going to be easy to identify now anyway and next spring/summer you will have a better idea what you have - what works well, what has to go - and if next year you can't recognise any plant, you know where to post the photos.

Dave

[King Edward]

The small plant is Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris), the large one is an Iris probably ordinary Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus). I wouldn't let the Iris get too big and take over. There's also duckweed on the surface, which you may need to scoop off occasionally if it gets too much.

[Bob_at_Fant]

Thanks for the ID's. I'm hoping that I might be able to propagate the Irises just by splitting and repotting which would reduce the size. One good aspect of this I think is the large pots the Irises are sitting in, as someone has remarked elsewhere pots at surface level seem to make nice platforms for frogs to sit on and perhaps a way for froglets to climb out of a pond. Duckweed is a big issue around here..

Hi Tringa, one of the reasons I chose to join this site rather than another was the range of ideas and opinions on offer and the good natured character of debate when compared to some other sites so all advice is welcome, even when it changes

I've just remembered that I have a copy of Collins Complete Guide to British Wildlife which seems to have some ponds plants but the photos are rather small and I've never been sure about how complete it is.

New thread with new pond and photo coming up..

Bob

[Billabong Karen]

I can recommend the Collins Pocket Guide to Freshwater Life, both for plant life and animal life. A little basic perhaps for the dedicated and knowledgeable on this forum, but for the enthusiastic beginner (sorry Bob, counting both you and me in this group) absolutely perfect. I spent many a happy hour pond dipping over the summer and using this book to identify the specimens I collected.

[Bob_at_Fant]

I shall look out for this, if I'm going to carry on doing ponds which seems likely, it would probably be a good resource

[Billabong Karen]

Good stocking filler, if anyone wants to get you an extra present... Let me know what you think of it.