Where Do They Go ?

Green Frog

I have a small water garden/goldfish pond in my side-yard. This little patch of space always has something going on of interest. It provides the cleanest water around for many species and is a food source for mink in the dead of winter. I always have resident Green Frogs and breeding American Toads.

Semi-resident should be the key word when describing the Green Frogs. This pond has been there since 1987 and every year the frogs are gone by mid-June. They always return in late-September and winter in the pond. They started showing back up around September 24th  or there about. I had been looking for them everyday for the previous couple of weeks. I am just curious as to where they choose to spend their summer vacation. There are no ditches or any other water within what I would think to be frog travelling distance. Does anyone know where they go??

(c) 2014 High Virginia Outdoors Photo (c) 2014 High Virginia Images All Rights Reserved

Backyard Gems

I built this small water garden and waterfall in 1986. It has given us many quality moments of staring and enjoyment over the years. Not a lot of maintenance has been required. A new pump is needed every three years or so and a heater is plopped into the pond in November. Four goldfish were thrown in on completion and they have been a self sustaining population ever since. Sometimes there are thirty; sometimes ten. They live, breed and die without any help. Minks sometimes thin the population in the winter. Green Frogs have taken up residence and American Toads sometimes successfully breed.

 Numerous species of aquatic vegetation have used this little pond as a home. some were good and others were pulled out and composted. Dragonflies and damsel flies make daily visits. Some were born there. If you have ever thought of making a water garden part of your life; go ahead and do it. It will not be too painful and you'll be glad you did it. We only live once and should cherish all of our staring time.

(c) 2014 High Virginia Outdoors All Rights Reserved
Photos (c) High Virginia Images