Shock horror !

Hi Xela dont despair a lot worse things you could have in your pond.Think those in US call water hyacinth beautiful nuisance as left unchecked it will block waterways - but easy enough to control in a pond.My understanding is that water lettuce not hardy and would need to be over - wintered above frost temps.Neither likely to become a major pest.Hornwort is an excellent oxygenator as is water milfoil, goldfish weed also good but best in pots as can be invasive.Our pond less than 2 months old and pea soup now gone can see to bottom- no chemicals used .

Hi Xela... Water Hyacinth and Water lettuce are both on the invasive plant list here in the USA. I have them both in my pond and in my tub water feature. As Bonkers mentioned they are both not hardy and they would bite the dust here during the winter if left in the pond. I have them each year and at the end of the season I dig a hole and burry them in my garden. In the meantime I enjoy them all summer. The water hyacinth blooms are great. Do you do partial water changes in your pond periodically ? I find them to be very beneficial.

Since posting this blog the gardens have had very little of my attention. I have spent a good deal of time this month with my Mother by my Father's bedside. He has been very ill and finally lost his fight for life last Tuesday. Since returning home I have distracted myself by attempting to lose myself in what I have missed here on GoY.
The shock of invasive water plants being sold by garden centres has paled into insignificance for the present, and as yet I haven't even considered discussing it with my Mother.
My Father was 88 so has had a good innings. Alzheimers has gradually taken much of him from us over the last few years, a process which has caused a great deal of anguish for him and for us. I am very glad he is now at peace although the reality of what has happened has not yet sunk in.

Xela, I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your mother.

Such a debilitating illness many people grieve the loss of their loved ones long before the physical loss occurs.the only comfort to take Xela is that none of us would wish to suffer this illness and bereavement spares the sufferer further distress. Thoughts are with you at this time.

Many thanks Peter and Ray, your kind words are much appreciated. In fact renal failure was given as the cause of my Father's death, the infection had spread throughout his body via the blood stream. I cannot praise highly enough the care given by the staff of the Renal Ward, the Churchill Hospital, Oxford. Thanks to them his life ended without pain, very peacefully and with dignity.