The frozen wastes of Surrey

Our back garden remains covered in snow, although it is now starting to melt, with this result in the three ponds depression.

Starting at the far left and moving clockwise we have rush pond, stepping stones, water lily pond, king cup pond - although while these last might be called king they are, I think, a dwarf variety.

The water lily was also intended to be a dwarf variety and the sample in the tank at Chessington Garden Centre certainly was. But this particular one seems to be growing year by year, with the leaves getting bigger each year instead of staying at a modest three or four inches diameter. Plus the root has broken free of its bottom of the pond moorings and it now floating, with the growing tip at the surface instead of eighteen inches down. I think we had exactly the same trouble with its predecessor.

Give the thing one more year and then maybe, next Autumn, we will try again. Or maybe try something different. Hopefully without upsetting the newt colony which share the pond too much.