Big Excitement Sometimes Comes in Small Packages.

What could be inside this hastily made Dixie cup carrier?

 As you may recall from this post I was finally successful at introducing frogs to my garden.  Unfortunately, the frogs I introduced were bullfrogs from the eastern part of the U.S. which are not native here and haven't made a sound in my garden.  Since they've been successful for a couple of summers, one choosing to stay in the koi pond and a couple preferring a large water-water filled pot that hosts a Thalia dealbata, perhaps our native tree frogs will be successful here as well.   I've worked at keeping my beds full of fallen and rotting things (this is how I justify my laziness) and leaving lots of areas kind of wild with water catchers large and small around the garden to try and create an hospitable habitat.  Recently at my school, my pal Christina (you may recall her bug and dahlia adventures here.)  has found three native tree frogs each about a week apart.  I learned too late that transporting these to new areas is not recommended as they have strong homing instincts and may be killed trying to return home.  However, it's been about 4 weeks since the first couple of tree frogs, that narrowly escaped the running feet of children and the blades of the school lawn mower, were introduced and I hear their lovely song at various times of the day so maybe they are happy here.

Today, this little fellow jumped right in front of my friend Kim who announced it's presence to Chistina who promptly scooped it up and created the fancy Dixie cup modular home. Here (s)he is being released.  These are in an area as far from the bullfrogs as possible.

Isn't it cute?

I've been  thrilled to hear the sweet frog croaking in my garden!  Christina's son, Cole, found the following two just this evening in their garden which is overrun with the critters!   The markings on this one are quite different from the others.  Is it a different kind of frog or do markings of tree frogs vary?

 Christina sent these pictures of these two new pals for the three in my garden.  I hope that they'll be happy here and create lots of offspring!  We certainly have a lot of bugs for them to eat!

Thanks, Cristina and Cole for the sweet frog song in my garden that your little friends sing!

A Couple of Exciting Things in My Own Garden

 

You may remember my previous posts about Solanum quitoense.  Just before the Fling at the end of June, my decision about whether or not I should pick and try one of the gorgeous orange fruits adorning my plant was made for me by the plant that drops the fruit as it ripens.  The interweb said that the fuzz should be rubbed off the surface of the fruit.  I learned that this is best done using a paper towel as the fuzz likes to remain in ones skin.  Not as irritating as Opuntia glochids and not as long lasting, they're still not fun.   

The interweb also said that these are eaten by squeezing the inner parts, seeds and all into one's mouth and discarding the outer skin. Do you see the similarity to tomatoes, their cousins in the solanum family?  Here one has been cut vertically; the other horizontally.

The fruit is said to have a citrus flavor similar to lime with a touch of rhubarb.  I noticed a distinct kiwi flavor as well.  

 You can read more about the growth and uses of this interesting fruit here.

 

 

The other big news is fauna rather than flora related.  For several years, I've purchased tadpoles to put in my pond hoping that someday I might have frogs.  Once I unintentionally brought a frog home in a water plant.  Poor lonely thing lasted a few years.  The exciting news is that for the last few weeks, I've seen a couple of little frogs mostly hopping as fast as possible to get back to the safety of the pond when I approach.  Today, one of them stayed in place long enough for me to run back in the house and get my camera.  Here's the little guy and to the right is Remmington (one of the koi) coming over to see what's going on.

Isn't (s)he lovely?  I haven't heard any singing from the two but maybe it's the wrong time of year or maybe they're too young.  Having never had frogs in town, I know nothing about them. 

Kisses are only twenty five cents apiece but you have to catch him first!

Ain't life in the garden grand?