2013 roll call

2013 Roll call!

[tick] 1 blue orfe x 11 in (an original fish from about 10 years ago – and the last)
[tick] 1 x orange orfe (about 10 inches, grown from a tiddler)
[tick] I x silver koi
[tick] 1 x red and black goldfish – another survivor from about 7 years now – about 8 inches

The following were added in 2011:

[tick] 1 x baby gold orfe 4-5 inch now  

[tick] 1 x baby blue orfe about 4- 5 inch

[MIA] 1 x very golden goldfish

[tick] 2 x shebunkin both about 5 inches. One red head, one speckley There is also a third shebunkin!

2 x comets both about 5 inches. On red top, one red speckles (speckles lost almost white now)

[tick] And one baby goldfish now about 3-4 inches

Very sad Blog - end of an era

I started this blog back in 2006 as a single woman rediscovering my own individual iunterests.  It was menat to be a semi-ironic play on my strained relationship with my mother and the one thing we bonded over - the frog pond. I told the sdtory of how i could not be trusted with the frog spawn at my house and this beacme a metraphor for her regard of my abilities.

Well, mum is now in a home.  Her hosue is about to be rneted.  And I have been told to fill in her pond.

I know.  Not a big thing at all.

Went to do this and what happens? A frog jumps out.  I had a fish around but could not see any more.

Tomorrow a kind friend is going to do this for me.  I cant do it myself.

So there we go.

Frogs represent so much that I love about life.  This blog was meant to be about positive rebirth and the circle of life.  blah blah.,

An the circle closes.

see the Master of the RTub rear his head checking on the baby frogs as they make thier way uyp the side of the tub.....I can count at least eight in this photo.

ive grabbed a few anmd put them into the tbnk.  I put them in too early last year.

There must be at least a hundred baby frogs boucning around in the pond.

an exciting evening with the frog community

First, I hear a splash in the water tub.  I watch and there is a lovely fully grown adult frog in amongst all the tadpoles.  No idea how he got there.  Has he been there all winter?  Quite possibly! Although I would have expected spawn if so.  He seemed very at home and did not disappear when I dashed for the camera.

Then, down the dark end, where all the tadpoles gather another splash and another adult frog!

It’s incredible to think they grow from a mere tadpole into a 4- 5inch long creature…

I put the hose in the pond and raised the water level which gave the fish the opportunity to swim over the wire and into tadpole land…stupid me…yum yum said the fish.

And the tadpoles just LOVE munching on that lobelia.  If you look close enough you can see their little mouths working on the flowers.

Pond lily finally starting to sprout…garden looking green and luscious.

a new season begins

This is the best time of year . The cover comes off the pond; the fish start putting
a bit of vim in their swim and we get to see who has survived the winter.

Roll call!

1 blue orfe x 11 in (an original fish from about 8/9 years ago – and the last)

1 x orange orfe (about 10 inches, grown over last 3-4 years from a
tiddler)

I x silver koi – grown about 3 inches fomr last year and fattening up nicely. Look away Mr Fox

1 x red and black goldfish – another survivor from about 6 years now – about 6 inches

The following were added last year:

1 x very golden goldfish now about 5 in long.

2 x shebunkin both about 5 inches. One red head, one speckley

2 x comets both about 5 inches. On red top, one red speckles

1 x baby gold orfe -2-3 inch thin

1 x baby blue orfe about 4 inch thin

And one teeny little goldfish and 2 inches long - no idea where he came from!

more spawn on day 3

more spawn on day 3

check the photo sequence...

and today there is more!

How exciting! This morning there is even MORE spawn. From the same frog or a different one I wonder?

The spawn has arrived

First post of the season. The frogs have spawned far earlier than usual. Usually the Wednesday before the clocks go back so 21 March - about ten days early.

Still in the same place though. I wonder if any others will spawn? They always return to their homeland...

I wont do the fish roll call until then when I remove the pond cover.

Thinking about a nighttime visit to garner newt spawn from over Preston park but ill need someone to hold the torch. Volunteers?