Invite a Frog to Dinner!

  The Frog Pond is about the only place that is somewhat cool around here.  The False Indigo bushes drape over it providing a good bit of shade thus cooling the water.  Of course, the water lilies and water hyacinths do give a bit of shade toward the center of the little pond so, all in all, the frogs are happy campers.  With the temperatures peaking in the triple digits each day, any cool spot can become quite crowded.  The pond is just that....crowded.  Hundreds of frogs and toads of all types have moved in during their search for water.  It is hopping there!

  With all of those frogs competing for food, I did notice that a few of the larger ones are dining upon smaller ones and on tadpoles.  I guess it is just too tiring to hunt elsewhere during the heat of the day.  Their (almost) disturbing habit of eating anything and everything that wiggles got me curious.  Are frogs cannibals?  Yep.  They sure are.  Smaller frogs often become a meal for a larger one. Frogs are not picky eaters. Like I said, they will eat anything that wiggles.  It does not take much to convince a frog that some wadded up bit of string is actually edible.  A few strands of burlap tied to a string can be flipped out among the lilies to draw any number of frogs out into the open.  Flip that string long enough and wiggle it intensely and a dozen or so frogs will all be after it!  

  Another odd fact about frogs (one that few folks know) is that frogs shed their skin to keep it healthy.  Some types shed weekly while others may even shed daily.  So, that is cool....sort of...maybe.  The creepy part is that the frog will actually dine upon that old skin.  As the skin is sloughing off, the frog will actually start poking it in its mouth.  The old adage of "Waste not, want not" is in full power there!  The skin is full of nutrition and provides the frog with an easy meal.  Not one that I would prefer but frogs seem to delight in it.

  Since the tomato patch is not far from the Frog Pond, I have a front row seat to watch the antics of the critters living there.  They amuse me with their rambunctiousness and with their cacophony of croaks.  Their dining habits are a tad disgusting, though, so I really do not think I shall invite any frogs to supper.