Warning: Icky Pictures to Follow
Are you ready?
Frog eggs floating around in the shallow end of my pond. Like a string of tiny black pearls, only SLIMY
Eeeoooouuuuuww.
These are also frog eggs, of a different variety. I have previously pulled out other clumps of eggs, stuck to fallen branches, in a vain attempt to cut down on the croakers, but to no avail. I am not going in after that string of ickyness above. No way.
I found a site that names which kind of frog eggs these are. Amazing. The internet has everything.
What we would like in our pond, besides fish, is turtles. Our fish died from lack of oxygen, as the pond is full of decomposing leaves, and it did freeze over completely several times during the winter. Fish don't like that much. Frogs, however, could care less. We have dozens of different kinds presently, all having orgies and making a big racket.
Ah, Wilderness!
In the meantime, a frost warning has been issued and we spent 2.5 hours last night covering everything we could with containers, bubble wrap, blankets, upended plant pots, batting, (yes, batting) and then it only rained. I am taking no chances, the snow might happen tonight. If not, at least we know we can do it. I hadn't yet planted many many pots, and they all went into the tiny room of the potting shed, with the heater going. Some plants I unplanted and brought in too. I am wiped.
there is something beautifully ethereal about those black ones... very lace like... not the green blobs though..
ReplyDeleteYuck! I don't blame you for covering everything. Last year the frost stole all of our flowering bushes. It didn't kill them, but it prevented any beautiful blooming spring. I sure did miss my lilacs.
ReplyDeleteConsider carefully wanting turtles--those "snapping" type (we had them in Roanoke, VA--from what I can discover, they are in your area, too) can and DO grab the legs (and whatever else they can get) of ducks, pull them under and eat them. They did horrid damage to my cat's face (curiousity--in this case, not a good thing). We did all we couldto keep them out of our pond).
ReplyDeleteA "froggy" pond is a healthy one. Consider consulting the local county extension before stocking any fish or turtles.
ReplyDeletehttp://utextension.tennessee.edu/
I so miss falling asleep to the spring peepers. I can only hear them here if I go out side.
ReplyDeleteTo keep the pond from freezing over completely, float a log in it (or drop a medium sized tree in it so part sticks out of the water). This should keep it from freezing but you can also wiggle it should it look like the ice is closing off. Also makes a place for turtles to sun themselves.
And yes, you do NOT want snappers. They will eat the baby ducks. Red ears are nice to have but, as suggested, check with your local extension. We have the Kellogg Biological Center here and they have always been a great source of info for me.
teri
turtles eat frogs...and so do fish. and I think the big blob of tadpole stuff is toad eggs. either frogs are long skinny strings and toads are blobs or vice versy.
ReplyDeleteMelody, I have had such a horrible year that I didn't realize you'd moved! I'm so glad you're in Tennessee, as a born-and-bred Tennessee hillbilly. Your wilderness is just where I'd like to be!
If you don't have any ladyslippers, you should plant some. They are gorgeous and should grow well in the woods.
My brother's pond has thousands of tadpoles each year and yet there are never any frogs. I don't where they go, or if they all get eaten by the goldfish. Perhaps all your frog eggs will disappear, too.
ReplyDeleteI'd love a pond full of frogs. Most will die or be eaten by things like wading birds or whatever. And yes, the snappers are mean and dangerous.
ReplyDeleteIt's possible that some of the eggs could be salamander eggs. Here in Ohio at the Dawes Arboretum, they have a cypress swamp that aways has salamander eggs in it. On one of the first warm days, the eggs hatch and the salamanders all parade out of the swamp into the woods. It's a festive evening.
Twinnie Susan
Hi Melody,That was the first time I ever saw frogs eggs. So interesting. Love your blog. Elaine Cooke
ReplyDeleteI love to listen to the spring peeper frogs and other at all times of the year. Many frogs are highly endangered -- they are lucky to have your nice pond in their neighborhood!! :)
ReplyDelete:) Linda
I have a winter pond and one of the most amazing sights was when a Great Blue Heron flew in and snacked on the tadpoles. I had never seen frog eggs either. I learn so much from youe blog. Cathy
ReplyDeleteI believe that frogs will eat insects...and thus you might not want to discourage them all.
ReplyDeleteWe get the blobby ones but not the stringy ones-cool!
ReplyDelete