Day of the Frog!

   Early this afternoon, it was too hot to stay in the house and, well, I was bored so I took a quick hike about the hillside.  A stiff breeze was coming off the Bay and the shade of the old oaks was welcoming.  This was one of the few times that I hung under the trees instead of heading to the pier.  I meandered the path that leads around the east side of the property until it comes to the canebrake.  There, I can head to the creek or turn to go up the hillside to the small Frog Pond.  I opted for the pond.

  

  As I neared the small pond, I heard a frog burp then a loud splash.  Ok, so one must have seen or heard me coming.  I eased my way closer to the pond and, suddenly, frogs were everywhere!  Instead of jumping into the pond, the frogs decided to jump out onto the grass.  It is in the tall grass or under the orange trees that the frogs seek protection but I thwarted those ideas!  Early this morning, I spent two hours with a weed trimmer cutting all the unsightly weeds from around the pond.  Yep, I even trimmed under the citrus trees.  The frogs were in a state of confusion this afternoon as they had no idea where to hop to escape this lumbering monster!

  Don't fret too much over the frogs being easy targets for predators as these frogs can leap nigh on 8ft in a single hop and there are still tons of places to hide.  In fact, the new fence line that I installed for the boysenberries provides a perfect "getaway" for the frogs.  It is just a few feet from the Frog Pond where the critters live.  I have seen several leap through the fence to the safety of the other side.  Any predator would have to run all the way around the fence to chase the frogs.  Gotta take care of my frogs!  Being in the midst of a dozen or more wildly hopping frogs was the highlight of my day!

Social Distancing With A Frog Prince!

  The social distancing plan is working rather well here on the Bayou.  I keep my distance...you keep yours...and we are all happy campers.  My idea is to spend as much time outside as I can each day.  With almost nine acres on which to roam, there is always some place that is devoid of other humans.  Plus, not too many folks have a great desire to tromp around in swamps.  I do.  In fact, sometimes, I feel as if the swamp calls to me as much as the water does.  It is then that I slip on the leather moccasins, grab the camera and make my way down the small path.  

  Today's adventure in the creek bed and swamp did not produce any interesting finds.  It was not until I entered the garden gate that I found a little friend.  In fact, I actually stepped on the critter as it was well camouflaged!  A rather large pickerel frog was under the boysenberry vines.  I was checking the new plants when my critter friend decided to wiggle out from under my foot.  Thankfully, the soft mulch kept the frog from being harmed.  One would think that after being underfoot, the frog would have made a hasty retreat to the Frog Pond but that was not the case.  It sat.  It sat and stared at me.  Being as I am in the midst of planning a fairy tale clue hunt for this fall, wild thoughts of an enchanted frog whirled around in the brain!  How could I convince this frog to play the part come October??  Well, it would be best to sit and have a chat with this fine friend and make him an offer.  I talked, the frog listened but we came to no final plan.  

  A pickerel frog is a type of grass frog that spends most of its time in grassy fields, meadows or thick lawns.  (In my case, it loves the garden.)  Here, the frog can catch its fill of insects that flit in and about the grasses.  The frog is camouflaged by its coloring and markings so predators have a hard time finding it.  Occasionally during the day or night, the pickerel frog will make its way to a water source such as the small Frog Pond.  The frog goes to the water to lay eggs, thermo-regulate and to avoid any predators that may happen upon it in the grass.  The pickerel frog is often mistaken for a leopard frog as they are so very similar.  They are both spotted.  The pickerel frog's spots are sort of squarish (not always) and are usually in two rows running down the back.  The leopard frog has rounder spots that are just randomly placed.  There are other definitive differences but the spots are the easiest.

  My froggy friend stayed put for the entire half hour that I sat nearby.  I chatted, it listened and we had a very enjoyable time.  When I rose to go further into the garden, my friend chose to linger a bit in hopes of finding another grasshopper or two for its supper.  I have the best friends...even though we did keep the designated six feet of personal space between us!