Another Week of Leaves - 8/11/2015

Spent most of the day clearing

more leaves out of my pond

which had fallen during the week.

At least the most had stayed on the surface

which made removing them alot easier.

Picking up Leaves - 18/10/2015

The arrival of Autumn signals the start of the neverending task of clearing the garden of fallen leaves.  

Keeping on top of this ensures that any leaves that have fallen into the pond are removed quickly to avoid them decomposing and turning the water stagnant.

With a huge tree hanging over the garden

there is always plenty to pick up each day!

My cat seems to enjoy

watching me hard at work.

First Autumn Tidy Up - 26/9/2015

A selection of photos taken

during the first Autumn pond tidy up.

I had a tidy up of the little wildlife pond,

cutting back the Iris plants and splitting one

of the Scirpus Cernuus plants into two pots.

Wildlife Pond Project #1

after a tidy up.

One half of the Scirpus Cernuss repotted.

The other half of the Scirpus Cernuus.

My Wife planted

a couple of Black Dragons,

from another plant which had multiplied.

I divided the Scirpus cernuus

in the bigger pond too.

That's a total of three in the big pond now.

These should provide good cover

for the frogs next year.

Wildlife Pond Project #2

after a tidy up.

Wildlife Pond Project #1 and #2

Wildlife Project #1 and the Bug Hotel.

I've resisted thinning out the elodea crispa

as keeping it the pond stops the leaves that

fall in from sinking to the bottom.

This is a lesson I learnt the hard way last year.

A view of the hairgrass plant which

provided cover the tadpoles in Spring.

This is where some of the

young frogs have been hanging out,

in the long grass next to the old bike shed.

Frogs & Butterflies - 13/9/2015

I was able to spend some time relaxing in the garden this morning and managed to get some photos of the froglets that have now left the pond.  Some are are bigger than others as you can see in the photos.

I can spot four in the photo below,

can you see them too?

The little frog below had just exited out 

of the pond and climbed onto the rock.

Whilst putting away some garden furniture I discovered that some of the frogs that have left the pond have moved into one of the little sheds at the side of the house.  I'm not sure if these two frogs are ganging up on this spider or are just happy to be in it's company:

My youngest daughter found

a butterfly in the garden:

I think it's a 'Speckled Wood'

Autumn Fast Approaching - 12/9/2015

It's hard to believe that 

Autumn is nearly upon us, 

where did the Summer go?

I know I spent June taking part 

in the 30 Days Wild Challenge,

but as for July and August

those months just seem to come and go.

I can't remember what I got up to

during those months but I do know

that I hardly spent anytime on

my home computer blogging. 

Here's a quick update 

on what's been happening:

Nearly all the tadpoles have developed into froglets and I've enjoyed spending many an evening watching them hopping around the garden or being chased by my cat!  I'm impressed just how many garden nooks and crannies have a resident froglet now.

They vary in size but it does look like alot made it out safely which is good news, although my Dad does warn me that sooner or later I'll be swamped with them!

I only have to sit near the pond for a few

seconds before I see movement in the grass.

The Water Mint in the

 Wildlife Pond Project #2

did well this year and flowered

for  the first time:

I've seen plenty of movement in the Bug Hotel

and insects do seem to be coming and going.

Recently I noticed a hole had been seeled over

in one of the wooden blocks I'd put in the hotel.

Not sure what has moved in

but I'm sure it'll stay until next Spring now.

The little wildlife pond seems to be attracting the more mature frogs and I think that might be due to the mosquito larvae that seems to be abundant in it most of the time.

I like to top this pond up with water regularly as without the top ups it tends to dry up thanks to the rather thirsty Irises.

Speaking of frogs, whilst taking some photos of the little pond, this handsome little chap decided he wanted his photo taken.

He's not one of the usual resident frogs as he's much smaller and I'm guessing he's one of the first frogs that developed from the spawn this year.

I was able to get a close up too:

It won't be long now before the leaves

begin falling and I will be forever

picking them out of the pond.

It's been a good year so far in the garden

and what great wildlife I've had.

I've had hedgehogs, newts, frogs,

tadpoles and for the first time goldfinches too.