Heigh ho! says Rowley,
A frog he would a-wooing go,
Whether his mother would let him or no.
With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach,
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.
So starts the old nursery rhyme.
It has a rather sad ending but hopefully the local frogs will live to tell the tale:
At least two pair of mating frogs, lots of spawn and a forlorn looking wallflower(*):
That makes at least five lots of frog spawn in my garden pond so far.
It looks like being a bumper year for spawn.
If you don't know, or have forgotten, the nursery rhyme there is a beautifully illustrated old version on the Gutenberg site HERE. (You may have to dismiss a 'welcome' box and then click on the 'read this book online HTML' choice, unless you want to download a version.)
(*) Wallflower - a person who stays on the fringes of a dance or party on account of lacking a partner or being shy.
Lovely to see so much frogspawn! I still haven't got anything in my little pond.
ReplyDeleteGemma: There seems to be more than ever this year. Unfortunately it takes time for things to come and investigate and then to settle in.
DeleteGreat images, John. I suspect that I will be admiring your pond activity for another year. I'm getting some pond plants in now though :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Shirley. It takes a while for things to get established. Mine is getting overgrown but that seems to suit the wildlife.
Deletemy, my, they are busy! :)
ReplyDeleteTWG: Even more now.
DeleteMagical. Spring has really sprung in Lincolnshire.
ReplyDeleteAdrian: I think the spring has recoiled for a while, occasional hail and a bally cold wind for a few days.
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