Amphibians & Reptiles 2020 HERE
Probably a little too early in the year to start this years thread and although I don't have any photos to show you due to these creatures still being in hibernation mode I was talking to the parkland manager and he was telling me that work to repair a Grade II listed wall by our water garden apartments was suspended when Great Crested Newts were spotted there and as a protected species they will wait until they emerge from hibernation and move to the water before the wall restoration will commence again. I was thrilled to hear we had such a rare and large species of newt right on our doorstep ! I've never seen one (to my knowledge) so will have to keep a keen eye out from March - October.
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Regards, Hazel
6x2 sounds great, Gaynor. The benefits of a raised bed (including the not having to get back up) are also that the soil heats up much quicker in the spring so you can plant a bit earlier than you would in the ground.
Of the two smaller raised beds I have, I rotate the Butterfly bed to one or the other.
Always a good idea to plant different crops each year in different beds to help prevent crop specific diseases/problems.
With me building the big new bed this year, I’ll plant the Butterfly Cabbages in the other bed from last year, and I plan to do my Potatoes in last year’s Butterfly bed, instead of in bags as I normally do.
I also have a small raised bed (approx. 6ft x 18 inches) which I grew lettuces in last year. I think I’ll do Spring Onions in that one this year.
We also keep old Trifle or Ice Cream containers which we poke a few holes in and plant wee lettuces or Rocket leaves in. Once they get going I’ll hand a few around to the neighbours which is always nice.
I’ve not done Peas for a few years now. The first time I done them, although I had lots of plants, when we harvested them we only ended up with a good pot full.
In future years we just ate them from the plant on the passing. Much more rewarding than using a full harvest for one good dinner. :-)
Apologies to Hazel for hijacking her thread. :-/
I’ve added a Froggie photo from the other day in the hopes of redressing the balance. (O)_(O)
My bird photos HERE
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Lot to learn
Froggies croaking in the pond last week. :-)
In spite of photographing lots of frogs spawning, I never heard one croak! Not seen a tadpole yet. Can you keep the diving beetles off them this year?? PS the toads came out today. Photos to follow eventually....
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Nige Flickr
Luckily not seen any Diving beetles or Newts so far this year, think tadpoles more likely to harm each other when they turn carniverous although I feed them special food to try & counteract this!
I've not seen or heard one frog in our garden for a long time.
My guess is due to the netting over the pond to protect the fish from predators.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
Unknown said:PS the toads came out today. Photos to follow eventually....
Here they are, then ...
I've been checking known spots and this week I spotted a pair. Further investigation revealed the area was rife with singles.
It wasn't the best location as I was looking into the light and if I moved to get better light I only got a view of the back of their heads! It was also a steep bank so I was struggling to get the best angle. However, this shot does show the glands behind the eyes that release the noxious stuff they are famous for
After a while I continued on my way ... and found even more in another pond. This was more to my liking, i.e. I could lay on the ground with the camera poking through the reeds and wait for them to come to me. I reckon there were 30 or 40 within a few yards of me.
Why is it that Froggies is a nice term but Toadies doesn't sound so good??
This one has unusually green eyes and especially the left one.
I find this next one quite humorous - doesn't he look just too fed up! Can't even be bothered by the stick resting on his head.
Mirror, mirror, who has the prettiest eyes of all ... I do!!
Controversial, maybe, but I genuinely think our toads have the most fabulous eyes. Look at that, like molten bronze
It's quite satisfying lying by a pond and getting close to the toads. I fully recommend it!!
Best wishes
Hazel in Southwest France