In the garden..

[Wessexy Witch]

The garden is bounding into life now we have had a bit of rain and everything is full of life except my pond.
Where is the frog spawn this year ?
I don't have any in my garden and I haven't seen any in the streams,ponds or canals around here. I wonder if the frogs layed early and the frost has killed the eggs or perhaps they're waiting until it's warmer. My pond is usually swimming with Tadpoles by May,so there should be some spawn by now.

Anyone else noticed a lack of life in their pond or out and about ?

[Gayle]

We got some in our pond a couple of weeks ago, just before the good weather ended and the snow fell.  Hopefully some will have survived. Defo plenty of frogs to be heard and seen in and around the pond though. 

[Stoney]

There was apparently an amphibious visitation to the House Of Yorkshire culinary area I believe? Only yesterday? lol

[Erekosë]

Lots of large tadpoles here!

[Coumarin]

Hi Witchy,

frogs, toads and to a greater extent newts, rely on water level and temperature before spawning. since weve had two very dry winters and an unusually warm week in late march, it seems that they may have held back. ive noticed the spawn appearing much later in recent years. normally about a month before we get our "rainy season" here in the UK. namely july and august.

[witch]

Good evening @ all ,
I think it was 2 weeks ago when I visited a friend of mine she has got in her garden  a normal frog and a red frog and lots of frog eggs
Never seen such a red frog before does anybody knows something about red frogs ?
Very strange ....
Cheers witch

[Knutty]

I noticed quite a bit of frogspawn a couple of weeks ago during our "summer" when it was warm, hopefully the cold recently hasn't killed all of it off. It's the worst kind of spring when it warms up and nature reacts accordingly, then crap weather comes along and sets it's progress back. As for red frogs, apparently after they have mated, some do turn red No seriously, they do!
As we are on the subject of gardening, I planted some radish a couple of weeks ago and they are starting to grow. Very "rock n roll" eh !

[Neily]

I name a lot of plants after bands / singers. We have a 60 year old Australian fern tree called Brandon, after Kirk - not Marlon. Just saying, I'll get me wellies now.

[Erekosë]

On a related note I think I need to put the garden's birds on a diet - that's turning into a £5 a day habit.  Might as well takes the little sods to lunch at the pub...