Pond clearance in the back end

 I mentioned in early spring that I did not want my pond to become a swamp. Well, despite the March clearance, the whole thing had become overgrown with Water mint and Forget-me-not. While they were flowering, and attracting pollinators, it seemed a pity to remove them. But today was the day - fortunately before the water became untouchably cold. Some were left, of course.

I sluiced each extracted plant in some water in the hope of rescuing creeping things. This had at least some success, as shown here.

Snails saved from the dredging

What I had not expected was how much moss and mud had spread out over the water surface. Removing some of that was more work than I had bargained for. But if a pond is not going to become gradually silted up to the point of disappearance (this happens to natural ponds) some dredging is needed. As a gardener I can choose what to do up to a point, and gazing into the water is part of the pleasure. Perhaps next spring I will be able to.

Before

After