The Frog Friend

  Last night, I wrote about the Froggy Hotel and its residents.  It seems that a number of frogs and toads love to live in the hollow stump that we placed in the Frog Pond.  I suppose it gives them a feeling of safety from any predators.  The only true danger they would face is a snake.  If a moccasin decided to make a raid upon the residents of the pond, the stump would appear to become more of a trap than a haven.  Last night, I also stated that a new frog had moved into the pond.  Its loud croak was quite different than the rest and is what called my attention to its presence.  Darkness set in before I could identify my visitor so the quest had to be postponed until today.

  Mark and I were out back picking the Boysenberries when I noticed Froggy had picked up his singing once again.  I eased to the Frog Pond for a sighting of the elusive critter.  Ahh, he was not in hiding this afternoon!  In fact, the frog seemed rather tame.  I quickly identified the frog as a Bronze Frog (also, known as a Green Frog depending upon the area and the coloring of the particular frog.)  As I photographed the pretty little fellow, he never made a move to escape.  He sat staring at me as if to ask me for a meal.  Well, to that, I must oblige.  I caught a few grasshoppers and tossed them in his general direction.  He took kindly to my actions and quickly snatched the insects.  He seemed pleased so I caught a few more.  These, too, were gobbled with haste.  Froggy never moved other than to catch the bugs.

  It is my intention to head out to the Frog Pond early in the morning to see if the frog is still there.  Perhaps if I feed him a few more grasshoppers, he will accept my friendship.  Some folks despise frogs in their ponds because they eat a lot of the pond fish.  Me?  I like the frogs better than fish.  I do not have to feed the frogs except when I want!  Froggy, you are welcome to stay in the Froggy Hotel for as long as you like!