Once upon at time when we moved here in 1992, we had a functioning swimming pool.
After we had been here for a decade, the local Nguni cow herds found their way to this side of the valley and started drinking out of the pool. A bit of research proved that the chlorine was highly toxic to their ruminating stomachs, so, being the bovine lovers we are, we stopped putting it in and left the water to its’ own natural devices.
The fencing you see was to keep the cows out of my flower garden. Now the local goats have decided this is a good spot to graze, and they have just destroyed my roses, but that’s another story.
You can imagine that a body of natural water is like a magnet to local wildlife. Suddenly we had an influx of frogs, dragonflies, kingfishers and hammerkops.
Frogs are like salmon, they return to their place of birth to spawn.
Hence, at this time of year our nights are filled with the unmistakable sounds of frogs ‘at it’ !!
It is said that if you have a plethora of frogs in a local (KZN) garden your eco system is thriving. If so, then ours is 100% thriving and the circle of life is well up and running…including snakes and birds of prey that circle overhead.
Springtime also brings the migrating birds and the swallows are back with us. At the same time, Nature provides them with sustenance and the flying ants emerge from their underground nests This morning the sky was filled with rising ants and birds of every description swooping through the air for a delicious breakfast.
Anyway, back to the frogs. We have the huge frogs, as you can see, and also the smaller tree frogs, but they stay hidden.
The pool is now alive with tadpoles at all stages of development and the new eggs are swirling around too. Our new kitten, Bella, is fascinated and they almost seem to play with her – “Now you see us, now you don’t !” as they bob up and down at the water’s edge. I got a lovely photo of Sid watching Bella watching the frogs.
Now we wait. Meanwhile the valley is alive with newness and the sounds of happy wildlife.
