Pond watch

It's no great lake, the little 'bassin' that nestles amongst the trees and shrubs in a corner of our garden. But a glance into its waters reveals a completely different world, and brings a kind of peace. With the warmer weather the pond skaters have arrived dimpling the surface with their delicate feet, while wasps dip and skim around them, to pick up water. Below the surface may lurk a water boatman or two, while our lonely goldfish dart here and there brightening the murky depths. I counted three, although more may be hiding under the water lilies , still traumatised by the heron who visited us earlier this year. I just hope they are both male and female so that their numbers may strengthen. After all, we only introduced two , purchased from the hardware store oh so long ago. Fortune smiled on us, for they multiplied over the years . But something else is missing . Where are the toads that turn up every spring? It's fun to watch their cavortings as the smaller males scrabble onto the larger females' backs, and cling on defiantly to repel all other boarders. They soon disappear into the undergrowth , leaving behind long strings of spawn wound between the spiky leaves of the flag irises. Sadly this year we have not seen any toads, save a single female who became marooned in our study, and was gently removed. But we shall miss their growing toad poles, and the tiny newly formed toads that sit on the pond's edge. I desperately hope that this is not a bad omen for the future.

Earlier this month the yellow flag irises were blooming , while on the borders of the pond a cistus bush flowers, dropping its ephemeral pink petals onto the water where they float like tiny fairy boats. A pink kolwitzia bends it boughs low over the water, as if to drink, while the faithful white water lilies slowly open up their petals to the sun. Yes, the pond is a delightful place to sit and idle away a few minutes, while the sun and clouds play across the water and the overhanging boughs are reflected across its surface.

But wait. What are these new creatures that come and go so fast like tiny red and blue streaks of neon light? Ah yes, the damsel flies have returned. What's more I spot my first dragon fly of the season darting nervously backwards and forwards over the water. It always seems to return to the same spiky rush leaf , but never stays. I begin to stalk it softly, and sit close by, not wishing to alarm it. Eventually it lands and I notice that it has left a tiny cluster of eggs there, and woven light filaments of web. Sadly , although our toads have not introduced new life to our pond this year, this and other creatures surely will.