Re: frogs

How cool Theresa.  I just love frogs.
It really isn't very surprising to have frogs in flower pots, especially if  
one gardens pretty much organically.    There are a number  of native frogs to 
California. Pesticides use and such has diminished  the numbers of frogs 
greatly.  It's a misconception by many that frogs have  to actually live in water 
at all times....although there are a few that are  pretty much aquatic, many 
only use water as a source for breeding and such, but  prefer moist areas.  The 
smaller the frog, the less amount of water needed  to breed and survive.   
People have a tendency to see more amphibians  in their landscapes if they have 
lush foliage cover, moist  conditions...especially if there is a drought 
elsewhere the frogs will go to  wherever they can find moisture, coverage and food. 
 Most frogs/toads eat  insects and are a definite benefit to any garden.  I 
bet in the evening or  after a rain, you can hear the different calls of the 
frogs.
There are a lot of websites to help you ID the frog according to pics  and  
sounds they make.
 
Do you have a pond??  That definitely will attract the larger frogs  and 
toads.  Here the Gulf Coast Toad is everywhere, and will lay eggs in  puddles on 
the street after a rain.  When we moved in (not much landscaping  at all) I saw 
a number of tiny cricket or chirping frogs.  They made a cute  peeping noise 
in the evenings.  We are fortunate not to have attracted any  bullfrogs 
though....which are the largest, and will eat just about anything it  can fit in 
it's mouth...including other frogs, birds, etc.  Definitely not  a good 
introduction.
 
Noreen
zone 9
Texas Gulf Coast
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 8/10/2006 11:02:17 PM Central Standard Time,  
gardenchat-owner@hort.net writes:

About a  week ago I was on the back porch and checking out my potted 
plants when I  realized a pair of eyes were staring back at me!  In the 
catch tray  attached to a hanging pot was a little flog, hanging over the 
edge  checking me out.  Since the pot was hanging, we were about  
eye-to-eye.  And yes, I did startle!  So, I couldn't figure out  how the 
frog got in there, much less how it was surviving.  So I took  the pot 
down and put is on the ground so that the poor thing could hop out  if it 
wanted and go find some food.  Which, the frog had disappeared  by a 
couple hours later.  So, I hung the pot back up and didn't see  the frog 
anymore- until yesterday.  The frog was back in the catch  tray AND in 
the pot hanging next to it, there was another little  frog.  I thought, 
how cool, I guess they are happy there, so just let  them be.  I have one 
other hanging pot out back, but it doesn't get  as much water, so there 
was none in the catch tray.  So, I filled up  the watering can and went 
to fill the catch tray in hopes of attracking  another frog there.  Well, 
as I was filling up the tray, yet ANOTHER  little frog popped his head 
up!  So, I stopped filling the tray,  since it was already occupied!  I 
have no clue how the frogs get in  or out of the pots- I'd love to see 
this in action.  I realize they  have little suction cup feet, but still- 
climbing up or down the plastic  hangers can't be all that easy.  What do 
you think they  eat??

Happy to have some frogs in  residence-

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