Note: I edited this to correct some info. The “frog spawn” turns out to be a Bryozoan, possibly Pectinatella magnifica. It’s an animal similar to coral!

When I woke up from my nap today, I took David, Beth, and Penny down to Sandogardy Pond. It was pushing 80 degrees, or it may have been in the 80’s for all I know. It was perfect swimming weather though, so we all brought our swimming trunks (except for Penny).

Along the way I took pictures of the flowers that were in bloom. I was looking for some fringed loosestrife in particular but didn’t see any until we were on the way back. When we got to the pond, Beth swam, David got on the swings, and I took Penny around while I looked for my aquatic flowers for the Bloom Clock. Away from the swimming area a bit, I waded out into the Pickerelweed so I could get a shot of some Nymphaea odorata. I didn’t see any last time I was there, so I thought it was all done for the season. But there it was. Before I got to it though, I saw these huge brain-looking masses under the water. It was frog spawn, probably from Rana clamitans, but I’m not totally sure. I had never seen wads of frog spawn this huge though. I talked David into wading out there with me so I could lift one out for a photo. I didn’t think I could lift it out and take the picture, and David was happy to oblige:

Bryozoan

Not Frog Spawn, but a Bryozoan

Holy cow! That is huge! There were a few that were maybe 50% bigger than this one, but I’d have had to wade through more brains to get to them, and they were in deeper water. But this one was one of the biggest out there. Cool. My hands were pretty slimy when I put it back, but I was able to wash them off to my satisfaction in the pond.

When we turned around to wade back to the shore, Penny was there with the look. That is, the one she gives when she wants us to throw one of her toys, or a stick, or kick a ball that she has brought to us. She had brought us a stick and laid it on the surface of the water, and was expecting us to throw it. So we did!