Animals in the garden

Hedgehogs

Active at nights (NO nights in my garden in the summer). A great snail eaters and not only that. Loves to check and even inhabit compost cheaps, piles of old branches or leaves. Can even live in old ceramic pots if they are large enough. Very welcomed visitor in the garden.

Please, be careful when burning piles of leafs or branches in the spring, since they might be a home of a hedgehog!!!!!!!

More information and pictures on hedgehogs you will find on my homepage about them:

Hedgehog homepage

Or in the book: "Hedgehog in your garden" by Doreen King. Kingdom Books 1996. ISBN unknown.

Frogs

This ceramic fish is laying at the pond. One day when cleaning around the pond I have accidentally moved some stones. And what happened? Suddenly a frog has looked curiously through the mouth of the fish! It looked as she wanted to check (the frog I mean) who is disturbing. I harried for the camera....

There is always many frogs in my garden. My friends are often bringing frog eggs to the pond and after few weeks small frogs are jumping everywhere.

Insects

More insects will come more flowering plants you have in the garden. They will make sunny days full of small noises. Wonderful to listen to. On the pictures from the left: Valeriana; ?; Origanum vulgare

Animal friendly garden

It is not really that difficult to attract animals to the garden. They are a part of it anyway. More "unclean" and natural the garden is, more animals will find protection and hiding places there.

Herbs and flowers will attract bees, butterflies and other nectar seeking instects. Pond will attract frogs, snails and water insects. It is fascinating to watch all this life "buzzling around" during a summer day.

Winter - time to help birds! I am in the garden anyway every weekend and see to it with all garden birds and other guests from a near by forest have some support. And their happy song in all the whiteness is a promise of a coming spring!!!!!!!!!!!

Photos & text by Joanna