Wild-life Garden Chapter 26: March 25th

I explained in my last post that we were away for the second week in March, in Poolewe. Every puddle seemed to have croaking frogs and spawn. When we got home, sure enough the two blobs of frogspawn in the pond had become half a dozen. Today there are at least eight, and much croaking.

Frogspawn time

I suppose about 1% of the eggs make it to adulthood. I think mature breeders are in their second year. One hazard in this Edinburgh garden is mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). I love to see them on my patch, but they are a bit much of a good thing for the small pond. They devour water weeds, eat tadpoles and leave far too much nitrogen in droppings. But aren't they splendid. One year there were ducklings for 24 hours. I don't know if they got away to somewhere safer. Cats and foxes are a bit much for a town garden too.

Colourful visitors

We have lots of daffodils, of course. Most of them are jolly garden centre varieties. But this one is a genuine Narcissus pseudonarcissus, such as William Wordsworth and Robert Herrick  immortalised. It was bought from a specialist supplier. On no account should you dig up wild flowers.

Wild daffodil

The primroses, Primula vulgaris, were grown from seed by an old friend. They have flourished for twenty years on this spot, and long may they continue. Occasionally a pink bloom appears, for they hybridise with neighbouring primulas; but these are removed before seeding.

Primroses

In the hedge the hawthorns are still the only plants whose buds have burst into leaf.

The hedge

The wren is still hopping around inspecting nesting sites, and today I saw the first bumble bee of the year. Spring is so exciting!