The
Pond in 2007
A Slow Recovery
March 2007
After realising how devastating
the water poppy could be as the overflow from the pond runs into the stormwater
drains,
we felt compelled to completely eradicate it.
We dried out the pond, sprayed the water poppy with Roundup plus a surfactant,
then brought in a backhoe to scrape the sides and base of the pond,
using the earth removed to establish a new raisede bed, well away from any
risk of regrowth.
The pond looked barren and bleak.
April 2007
With a couple of heavy showers,
the polypipe directing the runoff from our steep roof
on the north side of the house soon began to restore the water level.
I threw in a few handfulls of nardoo and crassulla to make me feel that something
was happening.
Jonni's comment was that it looked as if someone had chucked
a couple of bags full of rubbish into the pond!
June 2007
By June the pond was full to overflowing (through the sheoakes) although very
muddy looking.
The pond has a clay base and is not lined.
July 2007
In spite of the murky water, a pair of wood ducks decided to try out their
old swimming hole.
August 2007
One August morning I was looking
into the water for signs of water insects
and to my amazement, astonishment and high excitement,
there were thousands and thousands of tadpoles!
October 2007
By October, the edges of the pond
were well established with some tufting grasses,
and the crassula had multiplied well.
The birds had once again begun to call in for a drink and a swim.