Last summer, shortly after the five 2-year old goldfish disappeared
from the fishpond, Jackson sat by the pond. He said "Look, Grannie, you
have tadpoles." At first I couldn't see them; they were much smaller
than the tadpoles at the park. Were he not such a careful observer I
wouldn't have believed him. We watched for frogs for a few months and
then forgot about them. Over the year since I neglected the pond. The
solar bubbler still bubbled away. Leaves fell into the pond; algae grew. Catherine's dog Cricket often drank from the pond.
Yesterday morning I decided to empty the pond and prepare it for new fish. Cricket and Sammy came into the back yard with me. I fed two young apple trees, one baby fig, a rose bush, St.John's wort, and my compost heap with the rich algae water. I scraped the bottom of the pond and took the last full bucket to a clematis plant. When I poured out the black murky water, a frog or toad fell out with the water. I quickly scooped her up with both hands and took her back to the pond; two inches of water were left in it. I left the frog; I am grateful that she inhabits the pond.
The frog had filled my cupped hands (say 4 1/2 inches); she was as dark as the water. As I carried her I didn't see her - I was looking at the ground so as not to stumble. I have looked in the reptiles and amphibians book and am unable to identify her. I hope that she can survive.
Yesterday morning I decided to empty the pond and prepare it for new fish. Cricket and Sammy came into the back yard with me. I fed two young apple trees, one baby fig, a rose bush, St.John's wort, and my compost heap with the rich algae water. I scraped the bottom of the pond and took the last full bucket to a clematis plant. When I poured out the black murky water, a frog or toad fell out with the water. I quickly scooped her up with both hands and took her back to the pond; two inches of water were left in it. I left the frog; I am grateful that she inhabits the pond.
The frog had filled my cupped hands (say 4 1/2 inches); she was as dark as the water. As I carried her I didn't see her - I was looking at the ground so as not to stumble. I have looked in the reptiles and amphibians book and am unable to identify her. I hope that she can survive.
