Frog movie

Captured the early mating frogs in my pond, back in March, I've wanted to post a moving image for ages and this is a test run. This little fella was croaking away whilst I made him an additional pond next to the main pond. There are now 3 pools in this area, it's like waterworld. Sorry about the shakey camera and the zooming in and out, I was still getting used to my camera. I love blogger.com - so amazing.

More frog spawn!

Well, since descovering frog spawn in my pond last month it's snowed and hailed and generally been really cold, so the tadpoles were developing very slowly. The picture below illustrates the little tads emerging from their jelly balls. I've since found another blob of frog spawn (above) and the first lot of tadpoles are waiting around the edge of the new spawn probably picking them off one by one, tasty.

Frog spawn!

I arrived at the plot this morning to find a nice big gelatinous mass of frog spawn. I was so excited, it's my first, I'm so proud. It's been one year since I dug the pond and they're now breeding which is a very healthy sign. Lots of croaking and goings on in the water.

My dog Sky was very interested in the frog activity, couldn't take her eyes off it, like she was watching frogs porn (so sorry).

Pond one year on

It was about this time last year that I put in a pond in the boggy end of E7 - actually mid march but hey. Needs a bit of attention around the edges but otherwise a complete success. Even fed us with copious amounts of watercress so you could call it an edible pond.

Watercress gone crazy still!

The watercress is still going strong, I thought the frosts would kill it back but its growing away. It must be the constant supply of water running through, it's not fast flowing but it seems to be enough.

Pond in August

The pond is enjoying being there, as are the numerous frogs and other water creatures.

July up the plot

Pond is thriving...

George grows the best figs, here's a sample of how luscious they are...

In between the showers I get to take photos of the july flowers, the crocosmia (kindly donated by our friends in bonny Scotland) dotted around the place is stunning as are the nasturtiums, geums and sunflowers. The echinops below are lovely too, grew from seed last year.

Watercress

What with all this wet weather we're having thought it appropriate to plant out some watercress. Decided it should do quite well in and around the pond, which has a constant supply of water form one of the East Finchley Allotment brooks.

Pond progress

Introduced water plants kindly donated by fellow pond person and wildlife enthusiast, Simon. Also, my brother, the fisherman, volunteers for workparties on the lakes he fishes and saved me some Irises and other, as yet unknown, water flora. Starting to really look lovely and settle in to its surroundings.

Pond life - work in progress