Hello All

I've mentioned in here before my Grand Plan, one huge pond and lots of
little ones, circular seating area, nice hill planted up. Spent weeks
working on it over the winter, dug out the ponds, cut a 20' circle
into a bank, a hell of a lot of hardscaping and planting. Nowhere near
finished, but enough so I can see what's left to do.

Now, on a hot summers morning I've got my first real taste of why.

Just spent a very happy two hours staring at my pond. Pond skaters
everywhere, fighting, mating, pouncing on midges. 9 goldfish
patrolling in regular patterns, grazing here and there, ever hopeful
of feed arriving from the sky. Water boatmen shyly disappearing to the
depths whenever my shadow looms above them. Whirlygig beetles rushing
everywhere in their mad shopping sprees. Norris, the newt who arrived
a month ago from gawd knows where is slowly working his way around the
pond hoping that a female smooth newt has turned up.

Most stunning are the mayflies. Electric blue, glowing red - a full
spectrum. Mating (in a racist manner, always pairing with the same
colour), flying around joined together like some aerial Pushmepullyou
and laying eggs for next year's one-day wonders. Occasionally a
dragonfly or two does a low-level flyby, but not stopping long enough
to be fully admired.

Another mystery is the monster tadpole. About 1.5" long, alone, after
no sign of any spawn. I think it arrived with one of the lilies I
planted today. Those are just getting used to their new home, ever-so
slowly opening their pads.

Can it get any better than this? Sitting in my own garden, the sounds
of water running down the stream. No noisy neighbours or screaming
kids, no mad rush to do anything other than get another cold beer from
the fridge...

--
Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK - feeling really rather smug.

in article , Simon Avery at
wrote on 31/5/03 2:08 pm:

snip
Can it get any better than this? Sitting in my own garden, the sounds
of water running down the stream. No noisy neighbours or screaming
kids, no mad rush to do anything other than get another cold beer from
the fridge...

I'm with you - we have had the extra miracle of the ducklings hatching
today. Five so far out of eight possibles. They're are just heaven in
fluff!
--

Sacha
(remove the 'x' to email me)

Simon Avery wrote in message
...
Hello All

I've mentioned in here before my Grand Plan, one huge pond and lots of
little ones, circular seating area, nice hill planted up. Spent weeks
working on it over the winter, dug out the ponds, cut a 20' circle
into a bank, a hell of a lot of hardscaping and planting. Nowhere near
finished, but enough so I can see what's left to do.

Now, on a hot summers morning I've got my first real taste of why.

snip of wonderful imagery

I know exactly what you mean. Today, whilst I was bunging in supports for my
sunflowers, repotting the rat-tail radishes, donated variegated privet (I
think), strawberries, new (and only!) rose bush and sowing yet more
radishes, lettuce and sprouts (and celebrating the fact that the hollyhocks
are finally showing signs of life!), my husband was finishing off our new
chicken enclosure. Once done, we 'transplanted' the chickens (a traumatic
episode - neither they, nor we, are used to chicken-moving!), and then sat
down to watch (the chicken enclosure is also a
'strawberries-in-hanging-plant-bags' support). Chickens had to be moved
because of my plans for a gravel garden where they used to live. It was
great to just sit there, surrounded by pots of growing things, watching the
chooks get used to their new (and much bigger than before) home. Charlie the
cockerel has already dug a little dirt bath for his 3 'angels'. The
enclosure will soon be surrounded by Coronet apple trees - it's great to see
the garden coming together - seeing our plans become reality. Hopefully the
next week will see the neighbour coming in with his JCB to flatten the
'lawn' where the gravel is to go - and I should have somewhere to plant my
pot-grown plants soon afterwards!

This gardening lark is certainly addictive - a friend commented last night
that the place is beginning to look like a garden centre! The thing that
worries me is what I'm going to do after the gravel garden is complete - we
have half an acre of weeds (brambles, nettles and thistles, mainly) to deal
with next - this could be a life-long job!

Jo

On Sat, 31 May 2003 13:08:42 GMT, (Simon
Avery) wrote:


Can it get any better than this?

Surely the best bit of all is that, yes it will. As the garden matures
and develops, it will get even better.

--
Cheers, Serena

Sometimes I sits and thinks ... and sometimes I just sits. (Punch cartoon)

Simon, this is lovely. A little piece of Heaven.

You are perfectly entitled to feel smug (I too live near Dartmoor)- beautiful.

On Sat, 31 May 2003 16:20:09 +0100, Sacha
wrote:

~in article , Simon Avery at
wrote on 31/5/03 2:08 pm:
~
~snip
~ Can it get any better than this? Sitting in my own garden, the sounds
~ of water running down the stream. No noisy neighbours or screaming
~ kids, no mad rush to do anything other than get another cold beer from
~ the fridge...
~
~I'm with you - we have had the extra miracle of the ducklings hatching
~today. Five so far out of eight possibles. They're are just heaven in
~fluff!

The local swans didn't manage any this year. After 9,7,5 and 7 in the past
five years I reckon they need a rest!!!

But I am currently looking out of the window (in between typing!) and I see
that the Great Tits nesting next door in the box have a rather fascinating
route: feed babies, grab a peanut from my feeder, disappear into the
shrubbery for grubs, go back, feed babies... at least I know the parents
won't starve! I'm also getting through fatballs at a huge rate - that's the
Blue Tits. And since we just had a very heavy shower, the worms are at the
surface and the blackbirds are making the best of it. (Fortunately I got it
mowed just in time)

Sometimes it's great just to sit and watch, even if I'm supposed to be
putting courgettes in.


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!

Can it get any better than this?

The top third of my garden is a tropical one. Lots of bananas, cannas, tree
ferns, palms, phormiums, cycads etc. At this time of the year, they are all
growing strongly. In the middle is my small pond. I've put a wooden log
alongside as a seat. Early every morning, I make myself a large cup of latte
and go sit quietly besides my pond. The 'rocket' fish come up to say
'morning' and I give them breakfast. The frogs stick their heads up under
the water lily leaves, looking like they are wearing huge hats. The red and
blue dragonflies fly laps around the pond and the local friendly wasps come
in for a drink. Best of all though in my opinion, are my newts. They come up
to see what's happening, and then 'play' near the surface. They are
absolutely brilliant.

A great way to start the day...

- h

"H" wrote:

Hello H

Can it get any better than this?

H The top third of my garden is a tropical one. Lots of
H bananas, cannas, tree ferns, palms, phormiums, cycads etc.

Wow. Not much chance of that on an east-facing Dartmoor hill though...

H At this time of the year, they are all growing strongly. In
H the middle is my small pond. I've put a wooden log alongside
H as a seat. Early every morning, I make myself a large cup of
H latte and go sit quietly besides my pond. The 'rocket' fish
H come up to say 'morning' and I give them breakfast. The
H frogs stick their heads up under the water lily leaves,
H looking like they are wearing huge hats. The red and blue
H dragonflies fly laps around the pond and the local friendly
H wasps come in for a drink. Best of all though in my opinion,
H are my newts. They come up to see what's happening, and then
H 'play' near the surface. They are absolutely brilliant.
H A great way to start the day...

Sounds great. My newt, Norris, is either moving around a lot or
there's a second one in now (pond's too big to tell for sure). I hope
it's not Morris because while I'm not homophobic, I want little newts.
One of the houses I grew up in had hundreds of newts and I spent many
a little-boy hour watching them.

Not a frog or toad in sight though, guess I missed them this year.
Even the one I rescued out of a drain cover at work has hopped it.

Nice surprise this afternoon when I came home - the goldfish have been
doing naughty things and I've just spotted my first ever baby fishes!

I'm so proud! I'm a grandad!

--
Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK Ý http://www.digdilem.org/

"Simon Avery" wrote in message
...
Hello All

I've mentioned in here before my Grand Plan, one huge pond and lots of
little ones, circular seating area, nice hill planted up. Spent weeks
working on it over the winter, dug out the ponds, cut a 20' circle
into a bank, a hell of a lot of hardscaping and planting. Nowhere near
finished, but enough so I can see what's left to do.

Now, on a hot summers morning I've got my first real taste of why.

Just spent a very happy two hours staring at my pond. Pond skaters
everywhere, fighting, mating, pouncing on midges. 9 goldfish
patrolling in regular patterns, grazing here and there, ever hopeful
of feed arriving from the sky. Water boatmen shyly disappearing to the
depths whenever my shadow looms above them. Whirlygig beetles rushing
everywhere in their mad shopping sprees. Norris, the newt who arrived
a month ago from gawd knows where is slowly working his way around the
pond hoping that a female smooth newt has turned up.

Most stunning are the mayflies. Electric blue, glowing red - a full
spectrum. Mating (in a racist manner, always pairing with the same
colour), flying around joined together like some aerial Pushmepullyou
and laying eggs for next year's one-day wonders. Occasionally a
dragonfly or two does a low-level flyby, but not stopping long enough
to be fully admired.

Another mystery is the monster tadpole. About 1.5" long, alone, after
no sign of any spawn. I think it arrived with one of the lilies I
planted today. Those are just getting used to their new home, ever-so
slowly opening their pads.

Can it get any better than this? Sitting in my own garden, the sounds
of water running down the stream. No noisy neighbours or screaming
kids, no mad rush to do anything other than get another cold beer from
the fridge...

--
Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK - feeling really rather smug.


Definately jealous, but you're a gardener, how can you sit and watch, surely
there's a weed somewhere, or a pot that needs watering or some seeds that
just haven't gone in yet, or the greenhouse needs ventilating, or or or, oh
yea sorry, I know it's addictive, and I am trying to teach myself the art of
"sit back and watch", it's just not coming easily to me as yet.

We did have damselflies laying eggs last week, that was great, right up
until the male sunk the female well below the water level and then dragged
himself back up and flew off. Well she didn't come up by herself so we
stepped in, don't know for sure if it was the right thing to do, but did it
anyway. We also had to introduce tadpoles this year since no-one came to
spawn in our pond, however we did have one large frog sitting in the pond in
the blazing heat of the weekend, that was great to see.

Duncan

"Druss" wrote:

Hello Druss

D Definately jealous, but you're a gardener, how can you sit
D and watch, surely there's a weed somewhere, or a pot that
D needs watering or some seeds that just haven't gone in yet,
D or the greenhouse needs ventilating, or or or, oh yea sorry,
D I know it's addictive, and I am trying to teach myself the
D art of "sit back and watch", it's just not coming easily to
D me as yet.

Ah, I have a secret weapon for that side of things. The wife. I do the
hardscaping and mow the lawn, she does the plants. Works really well.

BTW, finally got around to putting some photos up;

http://digdilem.org/garden

"What I did over the winter"

Sascha might like to see a not-quite clone of her sitting area.

D We did have damselflies laying eggs last week, that was
D great, right up until the male sunk the female well below
D the water level and then dragged himself back up and flew
D off. Well she didn't come up by herself so we stepped in,
D don't know for sure if it was the right thing to do, but did
D it anyway. We also had to introduce tadpoles this year since
D no-one came to spawn in our pond, however we did have one
D large frog sitting in the pond in the blazing heat of the
D weekend, that was great to see.

I love ponds, there's so much happening in them it's a great place to
waste time. Same with moving water, great fun to play around with a
stream - moving stones around to see if it makes the flow better or
more attractive.

--
Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK Ý http://www.digdilem.org/

"Simon Avery" wrote in message
...
Hello All

I've mentioned in here before my Grand Plan, one huge pond and lots of
little ones, circular seating area, nice hill planted up. Spent weeks
working on it over the winter, dug out the ponds, cut a 20' circle
into a bank, a hell of a lot of hardscaping and planting. Nowhere near
finished, but enough so I can see what's left to do.

Now, on a hot summers morning I've got my first real taste of why.

Just spent a very happy two hours staring at my pond. Pond skaters
everywhere, fighting, mating, pouncing on midges. 9 goldfish
patrolling in regular patterns, grazing here and there, ever hopeful
of feed arriving from the sky. Water boatmen shyly disappearing to the
depths whenever my shadow looms above them. Whirlygig beetles rushing
everywhere in their mad shopping sprees. Norris, the newt who arrived
a month ago from gawd knows where is slowly working his way around the
pond hoping that a female smooth newt has turned up.

Most stunning are the mayflies. Electric blue, glowing red - a full
spectrum. Mating (in a racist manner, always pairing with the same
colour), flying around joined together like some aerial Pushmepullyou
and laying eggs for next year's one-day wonders. Occasionally a
dragonfly or two does a low-level flyby, but not stopping long enough
to be fully admired.

Another mystery is the monster tadpole. About 1.5" long, alone, after
no sign of any spawn. I think it arrived with one of the lilies I
planted today. Those are just getting used to their new home, ever-so
slowly opening their pads.

Can it get any better than this? Sitting in my own garden, the sounds
of water running down the stream. No noisy neighbours or screaming
kids, no mad rush to do anything other than get another cold beer from
the fridge...

--
Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK - feeling really rather smug.


Definately jealous, but you're a gardener, how can you sit and watch, surely
there's a weed somewhere, or a pot that needs watering or some seeds that
just haven't gone in yet, or the greenhouse needs ventilating, or or or, oh
yea sorry, I know it's addictive, and I am trying to teach myself the art of
"sit back and watch", it's just not coming easily to me as yet.

We did have damselflies laying eggs last week, that was great, right up
until the male sunk the female well below the water level and then dragged
himself back up and flew off. Well she didn't come up by herself so we
stepped in, don't know for sure if it was the right thing to do, but did it
anyway. We also had to introduce tadpoles this year since no-one came to
spawn in our pond, however we did have one large frog sitting in the pond in
the blazing heat of the weekend, that was great to see.

Duncan

"Druss" wrote:

Hello Druss

D Definately jealous, but you're a gardener, how can you sit
D and watch, surely there's a weed somewhere, or a pot that
D needs watering or some seeds that just haven't gone in yet,
D or the greenhouse needs ventilating, or or or, oh yea sorry,
D I know it's addictive, and I am trying to teach myself the
D art of "sit back and watch", it's just not coming easily to
D me as yet.

Ah, I have a secret weapon for that side of things. The wife. I do the
hardscaping and mow the lawn, she does the plants. Works really well.

BTW, finally got around to putting some photos up;

http://digdilem.org/garden

"What I did over the winter"

Sascha might like to see a not-quite clone of her sitting area.

D We did have damselflies laying eggs last week, that was
D great, right up until the male sunk the female well below
D the water level and then dragged himself back up and flew
D off. Well she didn't come up by herself so we stepped in,
D don't know for sure if it was the right thing to do, but did
D it anyway. We also had to introduce tadpoles this year since
D no-one came to spawn in our pond, however we did have one
D large frog sitting in the pond in the blazing heat of the
D weekend, that was great to see.

I love ponds, there's so much happening in them it's a great place to
waste time. Same with moving water, great fun to play around with a
stream - moving stones around to see if it makes the flow better or
more attractive.

--
Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK Ý http://www.digdilem.org/