Felix says...
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Posted: August 14, 2024
A Very Ducky Little Pond
Hi, Field Maple. The pond is a little overgrown and I haven’t seen any frogs this year. Do you think my auntie should cut it back so the frogs can get to it? She says no as the frogs and other animals will still find it.
Felix
Thanks for sending the picture of your auntie’s pond Felix. Always difficult to know what to do about duck weed – if only a duck would come to eat it? Unlikely in your aunt’s urban garden though! I’d say your aunt is right to let the vegetation continue to grow. The difficulty we have as humans is though, we can’t see what is going on in the water. Just as well because wild life needs places to hide, yes, away from us! Good for your aunt to put an old washing up bowl into the ground t o provide water for passing creatures and also, maybe, a home to a frog?
Field Maple
Posted: June 23, 2024
What’s Going on Here?
Hi Field Maple. There are aphids all over this plant. I think it is a burdock. The ants are busy tending to the aphids and there’s a ladybird too. I think ladybirds eat aphids so there’s food for all of the litter creatures on this plant.
Felix
Well Felix, this is interesting, what is doing what? And if this is Burdock it can get very tall and is seen as an invasive plant by farmers. It’s not native to the UK. The roots of the Burdock are edible and the plant itself can be used for medicine. I’m not sure about the ‘black blobs’, they could be ladybird larvae hatching. I don’t actually see any aphids? Burdock is a tough old plant and is not attractive to insects. The ant is definitely after something and the ladybird is beautiful!! Send another picture as it grows – we may be able to work out a lot more by then? It’s another super picture with such a lot going on. You’re the one to work it out!!
Field Maple
Posted: December 7, 2023
What a Treasure!
Hi Field Maple,
I was walking with my Auntie today and we noticed all the frozen spider webs. There were loads. They were all over the fences and bushes. There must be millions of spiders that live there. But what happens when their webs get frozen? I asked my Auntie and we looked at what happens to spiders in winter. We learnt that they find somewhere dry to hibernate. Some come inside houses. I don’t mind sharing my house with a few spiders.
I think I will study the gardens and fences I pass on the way to school to see what happens during the year and to see how big the spiders are. My Auntie says I should take pictures of the spiders and see if I can find out more about them. What do you think?
Felix
What a beautiful photo Felix! You have ‘caught’ a most wonderful ice sculpture just sitting there waiting for you to notice it. I’m so pleased that now you are a teenager you and your aunt are very curious still about how nature works and your research is exactly the right thing to do. I think the spiders have become confused to still be making webs in December and you are right, they should be hibernating somewhere dry. I’m looking forward to seeing what you discover as the seasons change!
Field Maple
Posted: August 1, 2023
Will it Plop?!
Hi Field Maple, I’m a teenager now! I was visiting my Aunty and she said to send you my picture. I found this green frog in her pond. Do you think I should leave it or should I move the frog? It looks happy but it’s sitting on a bit of old rubbish!
Felix
It’s also sitting on its tadpole spawn as well Felix! It’s a great picture but sad that nature has to deal with all our plastic rubbish, even a plant has taken advantage of a hole in the black plastic. I think it is probably best to leave it all alone and tell your Aunt that she should feel privileged to have all those tadpoles in her pond! Please also ask her to make sure there is always enough water for the tadpoles to thrive and grow into little froglets? Let’s hope you’ll see them at your next visit?
Field Maple