I am useless in a garden. I am easily distracted and way more interested in the fauna than the flora. I dig a scoop of soil and watch disinterred earthworms squirming uncomfortably in the sudden sunlight like slimy vampires, and I gently tuck them back in. I study the beetles emerging from underground and puzzle at how they can be so shiny when they’ve been buried in the dirt. And then I find this guy, seeing and hoping not to be seen, and am filled with wonder at the miracle that is the natural world. Plant a flower? Thank you, but I don’t think I have the time. I’m looking right now.
.What do you see?
.
Can you see me now?
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She won’t let me garden, either…
She lets me out of desperation and hope, but then she gets frustrated at my pathetic lack of progress. How can I dig, though, when I might disturb my little friend. Or his cousins?
Fingers in the earth every day my gran used to say,, I am postitive grubbing for worms counts!!
I could spend all day.
I like both – plants and creatures. 🙂 I like your toad (or is it a particularly nobbly frog?)
It was an American toad. They have the most amazing trill. Their breeding call lasts several seconds.
Awesome frog… though if I was about to garden that patch and he jumped out at me I’d be done for the day. Not a fan of slimy (or camouflaged surprises).
I love being surprised by toads. If I turned back the covers and found one in my bed, I would turn on the mattress cover so that it would be all warm. It really is amazing that my husband ever married me.
When I first met my now-wife, her family liked me well enough, but thought I was a little too urban. Not enough time workin’ the land. i was somewhere with my then-girlfriend and her mom and her mom was planting some flowers and un-earthed a worm. She asked if I’d ever seen one before. I was still trying to impress her, so I answered very nicely, but really? A worm? Have I ever seen a worm??
And…had you? You can tell me.
I love him!!!!
What handsome specimen!! My boys and I launch a worm rescue brigade every time we have a heavy rain. The top of our driveway has no many displaced squirmies that it looks like a horror movie. We save as many as we can — you’ve got to keep fighting the good fight.
My son and I rescue worms on the way to school, too. We used to rescue them and feed them to our toads, but the toads have gone to the great Toad Abode in the sky.
Prince Charming?
I was afraid to kiss it. They’re poisonous. What Disney doesn’t tell you…
Awwww … did you kiss him? Or is it a her? How does one determine frog gender short of dissection?
You wait until spring when they give breeding calls. The boys do the singing.
You’re my kind of girl! I find the little garden creatures utterly fascinating as well. Frankly, I have no idea why anyone in the world would fear spiders, they are just adorable!
Although I have to admit that I love plants, too. Guess there is a reason I’m a biologist.
Oh, and my 2-year old saw the picture and went “Oh, froooggg!!!” My boy 🙂
My husband is terrified of spiders. There is a large toy one that we planted in his underwear drawer. Petty torments are what keeps life interesting.
So nice to know I’m not alone in my non-gardening! I sooo wish I was good at it, though.
But I admire your non-fear of bugs. I’d have been too busy running away to get a look, let alone a photo.
I don’t like the serious, stingy kinds of bugs, but the rest are prime time entertainment.
I would be able to take care of a frog. A garden, not so much. Glad I’m not alone!
Amphibians fascinate me.
I am so with you on the gardening thing. That has NEVER been one of my strengths. Fortunately, Cap’n Firepants has a green thumb, so I don’t have to worry about it – just enjoy the fruits of his labor.
I can’t even weed effectively. I admire plants that have such a fierce determination to survive.
I used to love catching toads! But I was always very insulted when they insisted on peeing in my hands. Salamanders are much better behaved 🙂
That’s a very handsome toad you’ve got there. I’m also more interested in the critters than in plants, although I do like to look at the flowering plants that my wife plants and cares for. She’s the gardener and I’m the guy who while still in his 40s had a 30 gallon aquarium stocked with small wild fish that I’d caught with a net at a local pond, including a Large Mouth Bass and a Bullhead Catfish, which were my two favorites.
Oh wow! very cute. i did not see him at first 🙂
I am not one to really dig my fingers in the soil. When I am gardening with my oldest daughter and we see bugs and crawlies we always inspect them. I try to keep my cool, and not show her that the big fast crawling ones creep me out just a wee bit.
My daughter didn’t like bugs at all. Until she was about 8. Now we have all kinds of creepy things living with us.
You too? I have a black thumb. But I write blog post here and there to express my appreciation of gardeners. http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/nurturing-life-in-praise-of-gardeners-keepers-of-the-earth/