The Lemon Fool

Our pond, since several years, has been overrun by duckweed.
Presumably imported by ducks.
No, it's not the one that's inhibited by barley straw. It's the tiny separate leaves. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemnoideae that travel on ducks' feet.

In amongst the other plants it resist eradication.
Various chemicals have not ousted it.
Left alone, it covers the water, totally.
Countless hours scooping it out, come warmth and sun it spreads again

A couple of weeks ago I noticed that the winter's residue was looking rather wan. Not the usual healthy grrr green.
I began to hope.
And this morning, I'm sure.
It's not growing. It's dead!!!!

The cold has killed it.

Long live the duck. The duck is dead.

V8

At a guess, that might mean your pond is stagnant. No fresh water in circulation, no aeration.

Bad for fish, but might support other ecosystems such as - in this season - frogspawn.

Though I should add, I speak from near-complete ignorance on such subjects.

UncleEbenezer wrote:At a guess, that might mean your pond is stagnant. No fresh water in circulation, no aeration.
Bad for fish, but might support other ecosystems such as - in this season - frogspawn.
Though I should add, I speak from near-complete ignorance on such subjects.

You're right.
Moving water would wash the duck away.
This is a static pond. No pump.

Although it does have newts and frogs and skaters and has or had frogspawn.
The froglets if any are well concealed. We hope.

V8