Oh, Happy Day!

  Oh, Happy Day!  Spring is here at last!....and we are in the midst of a cold spell.  After months of warm (albeit wet) weather, we are now experiencing the last cool snap of the season...hopefully.  So, Happy Spring, Folks!

  I just recently wrote about how I noticed that there were no American Green Tree Frogs serenading us at night.  Surely something was amiss with that!  The only resident in the Frog Pond was a single male bullfrog. Well, that has changed!  His booming voice must have awakened his ladylove because now a lovely female bullfrog is sitting amidst the lily pads with this fine fellow.  The nightly song has become a duet!  Not only that, this morning, a bright green tree frog was clinging to the spindly False Indigo Shrub.  (Which, by the way, has decided that it was too early in the year to bloom yet.)  The tree frog was a nice-sized specimen that let me photograph it up close and personal!  The froggy never once left its perch until Ms. Nycto, the Bayou Princess Cat, started getting too nosy.

  When I was a kid, most folks called these frogs "Spring Frogs".   I guess this was purely because of their appearance at the start of spring...just like my froggy of today.  What a coincidence!   The Spring Frog came on the first day of spring.  Speaking of these frogs, I hear that they make great pets.  Folks keep them in aquariums and the froggies are quite happy.  I cannot imagine doing this as these critters are rather loud.  In fact, they are some of the noisiest critters on the Bayou!  Their serenading can be heard all across the Bayou and surrounding area.  At times if the windows are open, their songs can make it difficult for visitors to sleep.  Me?  I find them soothing...loud but soothing.  Another factor that might cause the squeamish to not want a froggy pet...these little guys can squish through the tiniest of holes.  Let there be one little crevice in that aquarium lid and Froggy will make an escape.  You might just find the critter in the shower...in the bed...in your hair...in your coffee mug or any place they desire.  I have had them invade the house on occasion and drop from the ceiling!  Fun times!  

  I do like the little tree frogs and even the big bullfrogs and I like that they herald in a new season.  I think most of us are due a little nice weather for a change.  Sing on, little froggies!  Sing on!  But not tonight. Tonight, you might be shivering in your boots. You had better find a warm spot to snuggle down for the big chill.