Date: Mon, 12 May 2014 17:12:21 -0400
From: “N.A. Booko”
Subject: Finding a friendly, funny frog in forks of a frozen fig tree .
Brutal winter. Thought it would never end- it almost didn’t. Problems with water and pipes and the cost of propane. Never thought there would be so much damage to plants. They said it got to seven degrees- but my area is always colder.
I lost lots of rose bushes. A lot of shrubs took a beating, especially Witch hazels. It killed much adult growth on common hydrangeas, andbloom buds on Oak Leaf hydrangeas. But the oak leafs have put out spectacular new growth, with fewer flower buds.
It took a long time to realize that figs were so hard hit. Difficult to see the damage. It was uneven. I lost all rooted cutting in potsand large percentage of large plants in tubs. The 30 year old tree didn’t do any better. Many large branches dead nearly all the way to theground. Some lower limbs are showing tiny rosettes of green, and some have small leaves. The results are still undetermined. I would sayseventy five percent of mine are ruined.
While inspecting the damage at eye level to a fig tree branch, I noticed a strange object in the crotch of a dead limb- Its color matched thethe tree bark. Dark and mottled. Upon close inspection, it was discovered to be a little tree frog, blended with the color of the limb.
He paid me no mind. He waited for the ant to get within ‘snipping’ range. What beautiful eyes and padded toes he had. What a thrill to be able to see this in person. I have no idea how old he is, nor how long we have been neighbors.
God bless nature- it never ceases to amaze me . . .
N.A. Booko
(N.A. Booko lives and gardens in Chatham County . . . I am unable to post a pic of this little fellow- but will email one to anyone interested)