Bullfrogs. Lots and lots of bullfrogs.

 

I took this video last weekend when the bullfrogs  (I think they're bullfrogs) in the pond next door were having a spring orgy. Turn up the sound to hear them singing. Since they are said to be a bio-indicator species, I guess the pond is in good shape, despite all the poison some of my neighbors apply to their lawns and that runs into this pond. I'm not one to nag neighbors about the harmful things they do in their yards, but my family sure has to listen to me complain about it.

This is the pond in February or March, with a couple of ducks on the left standing on the thin ice.

Itty bitty froglette. He's sitting on a pachysandra leaf so you can see how tiny he is. A peeper maybe?

The big guy in the bottom picture lives in my little pond along with a bunch of his brothers and sisters. They seem huge now, especially compared to the guy in the top picture, who is about as long as the end of my pinky finger--wider than my finger but no longer. On the brown frog, see the nipple-like thing below his eye? It's his ear. I think people would look cool with ears like that.

My frogs. I spend a lot of time creeping up on them. They seem quite content. Not as exciting as keeping bees but I love them just as much.

There are at least four in my little pond. All different sizes. I think they are known as green frogs (Lithobates clamitans).

One of my froggies. He lives in the pond that my bees used as their personal water fountain last year. And a note about the Denver County Fair.

A few days ago Kitt from Denver reported on the Denver County Fair. Here's a second review from the New York Times. Kitt out-reports The Times because she mentioned the fried Fruit Loops and the performance by Devo.

This time last year I was gearing up to work at the Montgomery County Fair, where I co-manned/personed a bee demonstration booth for a 4-hour shift (or was it 3 hrs but felt like 4?). It was hot as blazes, I knew very little, and although I'm glad I did it, I decided not to do it again this year. Maybe next year. I still think of myself as a beekeeper. Yesterday I was strafed a couple of times by buzzing insects that were either bumblebees or other bee-like creatures. I was unfazed, as usual, but if it had happened last year I would have assumed it was one of my honey bees and that she was angry about something and that I needed to find out why she wasn't happy and do something about it. Now. [Sort of like an over-protective mother. I should know.]

Frog orgy, and concert, at the pond today.

Dozens and dozens of frogs engaged in quite a lively and loud display. They didn't mind me taking pictures either.

My faithful frog. He's been living (alone?) in my tiny pond all summer.