Just when it looked as if spring had arrived, snow and freezing temperatures hold sway once more. Mind you it's not too surprising really; March can be like this. It's amazing how quickly things can change though and we're very concerned about the frog's spawn. I imagine the frogs themselves have probally taken refuge in the very deepest part of the pond but the spawn at the surface may be under threat. Many animals and plants at this time of year have built-in hardiness against any last gasp flurries of winter's cold, but research tells me that frog's spawn exposed to ice will perish. Sometimes those eggs furthest away from the ice, at the base of the clump will be ok, we'll just have to wait and see.
We have frog's spawn! Early this morning, Suesie discovered up to eight seperate clumps, laid together in a mass about ten inches across. And the excitement continued all day. By midday, the surface of the pond had become a frenzy of swirling frogs, seemingly oblivious now to our presence. As a result, we were able to crouch at the pond edge to get some amazing photographs. Two pairs were seen clasped together in the mating embrace; the females embued with a vivid orange hue. The rest appeared to be the slate-grey males; the action punctuated throughout with their low croaks. At one point we managed to count fourteen individual frogs! As night fell they were still at it, and we left feeling truely priviledged that our little garden had been graced in this way.
With a cold start to the month, my spirits were raised with the arrival of some seeds through the post; teasal, greater stitchwort and alkanet and an eleven flower mix of native annuals. Then suddenly, temperatues really rose. lesser celandine was beginning to bloom along the roadsides and hazels were streaming with lamb's-tail catkins.
Yesterday, the frogs reappeared, and despite continuous rain we were treated today with the sight of at least seven swirling around the surface of the pond. Although it's slighty later, there's certainly much more activity than last year. Last night I went out for a closer look, but despite my best stealth, the noise of the frantic splashing had become silent by the time I'd crept to the edge of the pond. I sat for some twenty minutes in the misty cool, but they all stayed hidden. At one point though, the kitchen light got turned on and I swear I could see several sets of eyes, glinting at me from the surface! I left them in peace, and hobbled away to ease the pain in my joints. |