On 01/08/2016 14:10, Indigo wrote:
On 01/08/2016 11:06, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Mon, 1 Aug 2016 01:58:42 -0700 (PDT), sweetheart
wrote:
Hi,

big snip

Thanks for reading. Advice would be welcome.

I am in Cornwall by the way in case that makes a difference to pond
life or advice.

Hi Sweetheart,

I too have a pond, a bit bigger than yours, and am also in Cornwall,
far west.
snip

In addition to Chris's advice, can I add that frogs don't always lurk in
ponds, or even especially close to one, so if you've any still around
they may be hiding elsewhere on your plot at the moment.

I don't have a pond yet, but most of the year still find frogs and
sometimes toads hiding in dark, dampish corners or under plant foliage
around the garden. They also get among plant pots grouped on the patio
that are regularly watered. Hopefully they're feasting on any slugs and
snails that would otherwise attack the Hostas.

I expect these frogs and toads all bunk off to ponds in nearby gardens
in spring at spawning time, but there are always umpteen of varying
sizes that need rescuing at the end of summer when we're mowing our
rough wild flower/grass area (hubby mows; I'm the amphibian spotter and
wrangler). They seem to like it down among the roots of the grasses and
other meadow flowers.



As above, at this time of year a lot of Toads and frogs are nowhere near
your pond, as Chris also said things have good and bad years, for me
this has been a poor year for Toads and Frogs and a good year for Newts,
Newts will eat toad and from tadpoles as will their own tadpoles, and
lot get taken by dragonfly lavae and even the black birds have been
known to get in on the act!
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
National collections of Clematis viticella & Lapageria rosea