Yes, the slowing up with age is a tough one, S. Pip, in her 80s, is facing that one and like it or not, even if I was gifted with her strength, stamina and energy of old, I don't have the same degree of dedication. So were are on some degree of wind down. Things like my "watering project" bought some time. (As hinted at in an earlier post), I'm looking at taking on mowing and strimming (altough much wasn't done with the latter) which should free the guy who does 1hr a week here more to things she needs a gardeners help with) and a couple of veg squares now have pear trees instead. Not abandoning the garden but changing plans...

As or ponds, I used to like the one in the field. I ran a pump ro a solar panel on a shed to that one and and it set to cycle on/off every few minutes and turn on and off day/night/dawn/dusk as needed. Leaves from a Silver birch and blanket weed both put paid to that one in the longer term, it reached a point even after draining and restarting, we didn't keep on top of it. It's now more of a bog garden with iris growing.