Gilbert and Mac

  Under the front arbor that surrounds the French doors, there is a number of plants both hanging and on stands.  There is also a number of critters that dwell there.  When I take my morning coffee out before dawn, the critters are either settling in after a busy night or are just waking to start their day.  I get the best of both worlds.

  This afternoon, the critters were doing just the opposite.  The daytime critters were starting to call it a day and the nocturnal ones were coming out of dreamland.  One that caught my attention first was the green tree frog that I dubbed Gilbert.  Gilbert lives in the tall pole lamp that sits in the far corner of the arbor.  It is actually an old streetlight that I repurposed into an upright lamp.  The basketball sized globe now sits upturned in its once shade.  Gilbert thinks the area is his personal space.  Every day, he and I visit.  He has become quite accustomed to me and will crawl from deep within the lamp to sit next to me.  

  As I was visiting Gilbert, a slight movement under the awning caught my eye.  Ahh, the lovely green anole that lives in the "roof" of my arbor!  After first poking its head out to see if all was safe, the lizard soon crawled out enough to visit with us.  This is a male anole so he has been named Mac. He had been snatching bugs off of the night blooming cereus plants before making his way back under the awning. Mac and Gilbert are good company when you have no other.  Too bad they cannot talk.  Yep, this isolation is beginning to wear thin.  Thankfully, I have my critter friends....even if our conversing is merely one sided.  It could be worse, I guess.  I could be talking to the wall!

Stay safe, my friend, stay safe.

   With Hurricane Ida threatening the Coast, we have been busy preparing.  Now, we find that she is making a slight turn to the east and is intensifying rapidly.  This is not good for us.  We will be in that upper right quadrant that is considered to be the "bad side".  We may be facing the brunt of the storm.  This is not said to belittle what the fine folks over in Louisiana are going to be dealt but to point out that you just never know what a storm is going to do.  I have been saying from the start that Ida is not going to play nicely and she sure looks like she intends on being quite the brat.

  As Son and I were out boarding the windows, I noticed that one of my critter friends was crouching down trying to avoid being seen.  Even though we were in full swing of a heavy chore, my heart started aching for all of my critter friends who were going to ride out this storm by their own wits.  Many will perish.  Hopefully, Gilbert, the frog, will take refuge between the window and plywood.  There, it will be somewhat protected.  Usually, we find that birds, frogs, insects and even snakes crawl into the small space and ride out the storm.  I have no problem with that.  They are welcome to seek refuge where they can.  

  Folks, once Hurricane Ida hits, I may not be able to post anything for a while.  We are likely to be without power and without Internet.  Stay safe.  Be kind.  Be generous.  

Finding Gilbert!

   A while back, I literally made friends with a frog.  "Gilbert", the Green Tree Frog, would often climb out of his perch in the light globe to sit next to me on the steps.  The first time was quite the surprise and I figured that the frog did not realize that I was there since I was sitting still watching the birds.  Then, the frog came again.  This time, I moved slightly to see if he would go back up into the light.  Nope.  Gilbert sat next to me on the steps.  After this went on almost daily for a couple of weeks, I decided to "pet" Gilbert.  The frog loved it!  So much so that he would sometimes fall asleep while I was stroking his little head.  Wow.  Who says critters don't have feelings??

  Lately, I have not seen Gilbert.  It saddened me to think that perhaps the rat snake had gotten my friend.  My coffee time in the mornings was not the same without my little buddy sitting there staring at me with his big orange eyes.  You know, one can grow attached to frogs.

  Well, this morning, I found Gilbert!  He had moved from the light globe to the large philodendron plant near the pond.  I was elated that the snake had not eaten my friend!  You are probably thinking "How does she know that this frog is Gilbert and not one of the million or so in the yard?"  I actually had doubts so I reached out and petted the frog.  It did not shy away from my hand and seemed to enjoy the attention.  So either this IS Gilbert or all frogs like to be petted which I highly doubt is the case.  If it is not him, I guess all Green Tree Frogs on the Bayou will just have to be named Gilbert.

Just "Hanging" With Gilbert

  It seems that the green tree frogs love the place.  I have never seen quite so many as there have been for the past few years.  The numbers are growing quickly, too.  It also seems that we have a good number of other frogs calling the place home.  The back of the Bayou and the creek are filled with their nightly symphony making the yard a loud place after dark.  I do not mind as the frogs are free pest control.  However, it is a bit concerning just where some of the critters are starting to claim squatter's rights.   Under the eaves of the house is fine.  In the orange trees is fine.  The greenhouse is fine.   In the walls of the Little Bayou House??  I am concerned.  In the outdoor light fixtures???  Has me worried.  Under the hood of my lawnmower?  Ok, enough is enough!  (That, only because I have to check before cranking the mower. Sure do not want to hurt one.)

  This afternoon, Gilbert, the frog living in a light fixture, came out to visit for a spell. (Just a note of interest here. Gilbert is what I have named all green tree frogs.)  I was cleaning the outside area around the front steps when I first noticed that Gilbert had climbed out of the globe light.  In fact, he had hopped onto the top step to watch me work.  Gilbert and I have a quirky relationship.  He likes me to talk with him while I work and will allow me to pet him occasionally.  So, I talked then reached over stroked his little, green head and went back to work.  I am not sure what startled Gilbert but he jumped from the top step to my shoulder then leapt to the arbor post.  There, he sat in the most hilarious position!  Ok, so froggy, you just keep clinging to that post and I will be through here in a bit!  Gilbert did, I was and all was well.

Snug Little Home

  Today saw us preparing for the upcoming "winter".  So far, the worst we have had was a "near freeze" and a couple of "maybe freezes".  Supposedly, that is all to end with a "severe freeze".  My garden is not going to be happy.  The day started with rain so it was rather miserable work to split and stack the firewood that would see us through this next week.  The work had to be done, however, so Son and I set to it.  We managed to get enough for at least a week's burning in both wood-burning stoves so we turned our attention elsewhere.  Plants and pipes are covered but the in ground garden will have to wait.  Most likely, the 30 or so cabbages will have to be harvested and the rest will just have to suffer.  I am in hopes that the system will not swing down this far but it is a "wait and see" game, at this point.

  While doing chores, Son called my attention to yet another tiny tree frog.  This time, the little squirt decided to make its home in a hole in a brick.  Luckily for the frog, the brick is in the chimney which will provide some warmth for the critter.  Once the old stove is cranking out the heat, the bricks will warm and the froggy will be quite snug.  The metal stovepipe extends up inside the brick chimney so the smoke will not harm the froggy.

  It is probably sad by others' standards but I fret over my wild critter friends during times like this.  Extra food will be put out for any that need a bite to eat, the greenhouse will still have the eave vents left open so birds can seek shelter and the brush piles will not be cleared so other critters can be protected from the ice.  Most will snuggle down in their nests or dens but the steady rains will still cause a lot of problems.  Folks, be kind to the critters in inclement weather.  They deserve some sort of protection just as we do.

Morning Friend

  Early this morning, I had to wait a few minutes for Mark to join me for our daily fishing on the pier.  While he was putting on his shoes, I decided to sit on the front steps.  The arbor surrounding the french doors is the perfect place to grow shade loving plants so either side of the steps is a regular rainforest of plants.  On one side there is a large turmeric plant, several philodendrons and a couple of ferns.  On the other is a gigantic split leaf philodendron, some hostas and a couple of unknown plants that seem to love shade.  All of this greenery flanks the steps and is topped by several hanging ferns.  Sitting on the steps made me feel like I was sitting in the local nursery!

  Being as it was still early morning,  I had not checked out the yard.  Any critters that had come in from the marshes or out of the woods could very well be lingering about the place.  Suddenly, I had that eerie feeling that I was being watched.  Hmm, something had been drinking water from the Puddle Pond.  In fact, it was nigh on dry each morning.  We figured the family of deer were seeking fresh water since the area has been in a bit of a drought, as of late.  Maybe a couple still were hanging close?

  Sitting quietly, I scanned the area.  Nope, did not see a thing.  Still, the feeling of being watched was heavy.  Ok, so nothing was out in the gardens, it was time to look closer.  A small cottonmouth was under those very same steps about a week ago.  The darkness was not helping with my search but, soon, the peeping tom was found!  Right at my elbow was a tiny tree frog!  That big, ole, split leaf philodendron was the chosen spot for the frog's daytime resting.  I just happened to plop myself down right next to froggy!  Its, ok, Froggy!  You are welcome to live among the plants as you do a fine job of keeping them bug-free!  We are good.

Mummy Frog!!

    It is no small wonder that strange things can often be found on the Bayou.  Just mentioning the fact that I live on a bayou, gets folks' minds reeling with all sorts of odd ideas but, then, a lot of those ideas are factual and not in the least odd.  Still finding oddities on my hikes, in the gardens or even inside the Little Bayou House has become a quest of mine.  If a "treasure" is discovered, it often makes its way into a trove of quirky keepsakes.  These are often kept in the greenhouse as I have been told that the Little Bayou House is overflowing.  Just so you will know, it has been brought to my attention several times that I have been designated "The Keeper of Weird and Wonderful Things".  Perhaps this is an honorary name but, more likely, it is a nice way of saying "You are a hoarder."  To be honest, I do have a lot of things.  To be equally honest, not all things are permanently housed here.  They often go as quickly as they come.  

  Today, I had to laugh as yet another oddity was found.  I cannot call this one a treasure although the thought did fleetingly pass through the brain that I "should" keep it.  Better judgement ruled...this time.  Thankfully!  This was a frog.  Yes, a frog.  No, I did not keep it.  

  Just outside the kitchen windows, there sits a small pond.  Once, this held beautiful goldfish but Hurricane Katrina took my fish elsewhere so the pond sat empty for several years.  Now, the "Goldfish Pond" has become the "Frog Pond".  I am just as happy to have about a thousand assorted frogs playing happily in the pond as I was a dozen fish.  (A "thousand" is pushing it as far as the number but you get the idea.)  Early this morning as I was sipping my first mug of coffee, I sat listening to the froggy symphony, as I do each morning.  Then, a frog was much nearer!  Uh, oh!  First thought was that the critter was inside the house but then I realized that it was trapped between the window and window screen.  That little rascal had squirmed its way in there then could not get back outside!  When Son awoke, I told him the predicament and requested a bit of help in catching the critter.  I do not mind catching and holding a frog but I really did not want to lose it in the kitchen.  He obliged and set forth with the quest.  The tall french window was opened and he found a frog.  Well, THAT was definitely not MY frog!  Mine chirped!  This frog was a corpse!  It was a mummified, dried out, dead critter!  The poor frog had gotten itself tangled in a spiderweb and I suppose the spider ate well, I guess.

  Son handed me the dead frog.  Well, thanks.  Just what I needed.  I proceeded to go out the backdoor  to dispose of the rock-hard critter when I heard Son say "You know, that frog would make a really cool Halloween decoration. He looks kind of evil with his mouth open.  Sort of looks like it is giving an evil laugh."  I stopped in my tracks, peered down at the dead frog and started having wild thoughts bounce around in the brain.  I could....if I would...maybe by doing...NO!!!  NO!!! NO!!!  I AM NOT KEEPING A DEAD FROG!  With that, the frog was tossed out the back door but not before Mummy Frog and I had a photo session.  Yeah, not the best way to be disposed of after its untimely death but I did not want to give myself any time for second thoughts.  NO! I AM NOT KEEPING A DEAD FROG!  It IS rather evil looking, however...maybe?  NO!! NO!! NO!!  He is rather cool looking, though...in a sort of morbid way.  By the way, we never did find that live frog!

This Is Just NOT Working!

  I am sorry, my friend, but your good intentions are just not working.  I hate to be the one to break it to you but to make full use of your camouflage, you must try to blend in with the background...NOT stand out!  It does not work that way!  Someone as tiny as you has to hide from predators!  Oh, sweet thing!  You have a lot of learning to do if you are going to survive here on the Bayou.

  Early this morning, I headed out the back door to the berry patch.  The boysenberries were long overdue for a good cleaning and the fences were in dire need of repair.  After clipping, cleaning, putting in posts and stringing up new rabbit wire, I was ready for a water break!  But first...I had to give the plants water.  A dozen new boysenberry plants had just found new homes along the fence!  Since I was planning to do a bit of cleaning in the Frog Pond this week, as well, I grabbed a bucket and scooped several gallons of the murky water.  This water was rich in nutrients for plants so I was sure not going to waste it by just draining the pond.  I turned and came face to face with a green tree frog!  The little guy sat motionless in hopes that its "camouflage" was working.  These are arboreal frogs that depend on their "resting shape" and bright green coloring to hide them among the leaves.  This is all fine and dandy when you are resting in a tree that has LEAVES!  The little froggy had chosen to climb up the corkscrew willow for the day.  This is a tree that loses its leaves during the winter months and sprouts new during the spring.  Bad part...it had nary a leaf.  The bright green frog stood out like a sore thumb!  Poor buddy!  He seemed to realize his mistake but was at the point of no return.  There was no getting away from the fact that he could be easily seen.  

  After talking with Froggy for a few moments to ease his fears, I stepped aside and went to the canebrake.  There, I broke about six or seven fronds of cane leaves to provide an "umbrella" of sorts for my sweet friend.  Back at the Frog Pond, I found my buddy still in the same spot so I carefully slipped the handful of cane branches down inside the mass of limbs of the willow.  Once I let go, the leaves billowed out and surrounded the little frog.  "There you go, Little Buddy!"  Instant camo!  

  Later this afternoon, I checked on the frog and he was still in the same spot but had been protected not only from predators (birds, snakes, etc) but from the hot sun that would have surely blistered his skin.  For today, the frog was safe.  If it comes back to the same branch tomorrow, I will provide yet more cane leaves as a shelter.  Yes...I do actually take care of my Bayou Friends.  They are the best friends ever and deserve to be treated as such.

The Jasmine Wall Diner

  The jasmine vine is in full bloom and the yard smells divine!  With this aroma wafting on the cooling bay breeze, every critter for miles (it seems) has decided to come taste the nectar.  There is nothing more inviting to nectar drinking insects than to have an entire wall of flowers from which to choose.  Bumblebees, honeybees, milkweed bugs, moths, butterflies and ants are all visiting.  They are feasting alongside the hummingbirds so the entire fence line is a busy place.

  I headed out to trim back the wisteria that has decided to join the roses and jasmine on the fence.  This is a volunteer plant but mingles well as long as I can keep the wild vines from choking everything else.  My trimming came to a quick halt when I realized that, besides the insects and hummers, another bunch of critters were in the jasmine.  The tiny green tree frogs were hiding among the leaves.  I would have hated to accidentally snipped a froggy! These little frogs are smart.  They know that the blooms will attract millions of insects so they sit and wait for the opportune moment to catch a meal.  It seems that the jasmine wall is a feeding place for many.

  Watching the frog for a moment, I noticed that a weird black and orange beetle was also on the vines.  It took me a moment to realize that this beauty was a milkweed bug.  While these critters do not really hurt the plants, they do reproduce rapidly and can make the garden look quite infested.  Well, this one probably won't.  That sweet froggy was watching the bug's every move.  Buggy may have become Froggy's lunch!

Face To Face WIth The Predator!

  There is one thing that is always holds true here on the Bayou.  You can always depend on something to catch your interest.  While it may not be something that you enjoy, it will be interesting.   Today's bit of (morbid) entertainment came around noontime.  I was cooking lunch when a strange noise alerted me that something not-so-nice was happening in the back yard.  Since we recently lost an entire nest of baby birds to some marauder, I figured that I had better investigate this call for help.

  As I quietly slipped out the back door and down the back steps, I had no idea that I would literally come face to face with a predator.  A snake was sort of precariously dangling from the top of the shed.  The twisting and torquing of the body told me that this snake was the cause but not the source of the noise.  The snake was in the process of trying to swallow a green tree frog.  This was a juvenile gray rat snake that was probably only about 15 inches in length and maybe a half inch thick.  The frog was a normal sized tree frog.  Even though the snake had quite a good grip on the frog, the frog was doing its best to escape.  One of the escape tactics the frog was employing was to inflate its body to nearly twice its normal size.  This indeed was helping as the snake was having a difficult time swallowing such a round object.  The squeaking sound that I heard was the frog being squeezed by the snake's jaws.

  My first instinct was to help the poor, doomed frog but, at the urging of Son, I had promised to stop interfering with nature.  "You have to let things happen, Mom."  So, I got to pondering about that snake and that frog.  I was not there to protect the insects that the frog ate before it met up with the snake so I should not protect the frog just because the snake needs a meal.  Plus, I really like rat snakes and this little one would have a doozy of a time trying to catch anything larger than the frog.  Given time, the snake will grow and move onto larger prey.  Perhaps it will clear out the shed of any rats or maybe catch a few of the squirrels that are devouring the peaches.  Any which way, the snake had his meal and I had the opportunity to learn a bit more about snakes and frogs.  Oh, and about the baby birds mentioned earlier, that dirty deed was definitely NOT done by this little rat snake.  Snakes swallow their prey whole....lets just leave it at that.