When in Rome, do as the Romans do, and when hiding in pine duff, try to look like a dead pine needle.
When I owned a home (and mowed my own grass) in Hillsborough, NH, I’d regularly see slender leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) zipping between the grass (and mower) blades. Lightning fast, these little frogs (and the ones in my yard were always little) seemed perfectly suited for life in a lawn. It was no surprise to me, then, to learn that leopard frogs are also called Meadow or Grass Frogs: spotted like leopards, their green and brown markings make them surprisingly difficult to find in grass.
Before there were lawns, though, leopard frogs lived in the forest…and some of them still do. I spotted this little guy next to a fallen pine tree along the shore at Goose Pond, where Reggie and I walked early yesterday morning in an attempt to beat the heat. (We also found a lost wallet on our way back to the car, but that’s a story for another day.) Although I’d seen leopard frogs in the usual places–lawns, deciduous forests, ponds–I’d never seen one covered in dead pine needles. As Rach commented on a post last week, shouldn’t frogs stick to lily pads, where we’re accustomed to imagining them?
- The title of this post is a nod to Mark, whose frog-focused comic is one of my daily must-reads.
Jul 27, 2005 at 10:06 am
“and the ones in my yard were always little”
That’s because you were using your mower to grind them into blood-soaked froggieburgers BEFORE THEY HAD A CHANCE TO MATURE, you horrible, horrible woman! Cackling your Zen cackle the entire time!
“Do frog guts have Buddha-nature? The cow says, MOOOOOO!”
You might be fooling everone else, Lorianne, but I’ve got your number! “Compassion for living creatures” my massive, off-white ass! The dog is a dead giveaway! What true Buddhist hangs around with AN ENORMOUS, FANGED PREDATOR?
Come to know Jesus, Lorianne. It’s the only way. And you might want to think about converting your dog, too, while you’re at it.
Kevin
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Jul 27, 2005 at 10:08 am
Sorry. The meds hadn’t quite kicked in when I was seized with the urge to misspell “everyone.”
Kevin
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Jul 27, 2005 at 11:54 am
I remember running all over the lawn in glee after it was mowed to watch the toads (that’s what we called them, but I guess they weren’t really TOADS, were they?) pop up all over, trying to get out of the way. I never saw them when the lawn was actually being mowed (I’m a GIRL. I wasn’t ALLOWED to use anything with a motor.), but I suppose they did. You brought back a bit of childhood for me, thanks.
Do you have what we used to call “stink-bombs” when we were kids? They were a little mushroomy hollow puffball looking thing about the size of a plum. They procreated by blowing spores, and we would hurry the process up by jumping on them. They didn’t stink; I don’t know why we call them “stink”-bombs, but boy did they ever explode! I hope you have them, and can tell me what they’re really called.
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Jul 27, 2005 at 3:48 pm
You want me to come to know JESUS as a way of alleviating my over-predatory nature, Kevin? What? Mr. Drink My Blood as You Pass the Passover Lamb? π
I was wondering whether/when someone would notice that all the frogs in my yard were SMALL: of course they were! Only small froggies can hide from a lawn mower!
In my own defense, I used an old fashioned push mower, so nearly all the toads & froggies had time to hop out of its path. (That actually was most of the fun of mowing: watching the frogs jump!) But I did once lop off a frog’s leg, and I felt miserable about it. But compared to folks who use large deafening machines, I was pretty careful & aware of what lurked underneath those blades.
(I do, however, have a wicked Zen cackle!) π
Les, I had both frogs *and* toads in my yard, so it’s possible that you really did chase toads. And I’m going to guess that your stink-bombs were Puffballs, which I’ve seen but never stomped. Apparently they’re quite tasty if you know how to sautee them… π
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Jul 27, 2005 at 9:00 pm
Kevin is joking, right? If he isn’t, Lorianne, make his comment toast. If he is joking, he’s got Jesus mixed up with Osama bin Laden.
I spent a lot of time in VT when my son was living there and a favorite place is the Blue Gentian Lodge in Londonderry where I went to Elderhostel and then just kept visiting because I loved it. Across from the lodge is a huge pond and all night long hundreds of frogs serenaded. In Palos Verdes, some people love the peacocks and some hate them–frogs and toads are the same. My kids used to go to an empty field and bring back polliwogs so we always had lots of frogs or toads–I don’t know the difference. Great photo!
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Jul 27, 2005 at 10:41 pm
Kevin is *always* joking…that’s what makes him Kevin! I think he’s making fun of those “Amuricans” who think Jesus is the answer for everyone else’s ills… π
I just read a newspaper article about the coqui frogs that are having a population explosion in Hawaii. They’re a non-native species, so without predators they’re multiplying, and their VERY LOUD mating calls are deafening in places. Apparently, there are homes that are virtually un-sellable because the frog calls are so loud, like living next to an airport. So although I love the sound of spring peepers & other amphibians, I know it’s possible to get too much of a good thing.
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Jul 28, 2005 at 8:38 am
aah, i love frogs! as i say everytime you, or anyone else mentions the little green (or not so green) blighters! I love Spot the Frog too! it’s one of my daily reads! We don’t get many frogs near me in Derby, its too inner city, although we did come across one right outside my front door. i think he might have been lost, bless him! I just have to stick the bright green frog around my neck (yeah, that’ll be Kermit!) Let us know if you see any more! yey!
take care
Rach ps, thanks for the link!
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Jul 29, 2005 at 9:46 pm
Yes, I’d heard you could eat “Puffballs”, but didn’t realize they were the same thing as my “Stinkbombs”.
I’ve also heard you can eat frogs’ legs sauteed in butter… (INSERT ZEN CACKLE HERE:)
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