Some summers ago, my industrious other half launched a crawl space renovation that had him under our house, hour after hour, on his hands and knees in the slick, heavy clay that is a hallmark of the soil in this part of the world.
Loved this interesting story. Even as a card-carrying centrist I’m tempted to ask, tongue only somewhat in cheek, and with obvious exceptions, aren’t humans an invasive species?
Both delightful and thoughtful is your writing. I happen to love bullfrogs, despite having grown up in southeast Texas where toads were the more common amphibian. Perhaps the bullfrog has expanded there, as well. If it has, I hope that it’s presence adds without detriment, much as all humans do when given the grace which you’ve encouraged here.
It would appear, if Google can be trusted, that bullfrogs are considered native to mid-Texas but introduced to west Texas - which is illustrative of the topic at hand, don't you think? :) Thank you for making time to read and comment, Debra. Means a lot!
Love the zoom lens from the specifics of your frog to thinking about aliens back to her. Beautifully crafted tale that raises fascinating questions and unexpected insights.
Wow Betsy. I learned so much about the bullfrog. We have many frogs in our yard and a few made it to my biology class🥲... and lots of sweet noises from the nearby lake are heard at night.... Don't think ours are bullfrogs but they are green.. And seem to be happy... Reminds me of some favorite lines in the past....
"When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why
But, why wonder, why wonder?
I'm green and it'll do fine
It's beautiful and I think it's what I want to be"
Adult bullfrogs are harder to confuse with other frogs, because they're usually so big. But, there are so many different frog species - green ones even - that I can see why telling one from another might be tricky at first. LOVE the Kermit lines, Barry. What a great example he set for us!
I forgot you had a pond! I assume it's already populated with other bullfrogs, unless the herons have been busy. Thank you for the comment, Tom & Linda.
We have a huge damaging toad in Northern Australia called the Cane Toad, which is gradually spreading across borders. But on our island, no - thus far just a wide variety of big and small native frogs with the most incredible array of vocal skill.
You've got me thinking about the dearth of frogs and toads in my yard for the last five years(or more)....here I was wondering if climate change has decimated the amphibian species that used to be my backyard companions : now I wonder if it is actually due to bullfrogs ?
Oh, gosh, Melody -- my impression is that in this part of the country, the balance is not skewed quite so dramatically as that - but I can't say I have anything really definitive to offer. Here, we still see frogs of all types. True amphibians need water, and we are not *that* close. Are you? What's gone missing? :(
Elizabeth, when we first moved to Ridgely, I had to be careful when walking or cutting the grass due to the amount of toads in the yard. Now, lately, I haven't seen a one , even though my yard is now mostly native plants,trees,and shrubs as well as a good number of raised beds.The one stand out has been the appearance of Bull frogs on occasion. It's kinda made me go hmmmm....
Your essay makes this lovely leap (!) from musing about a singular frog, to implications for our own human standing in the world. Very Beggins-esque! We (humans) need more such re-thinking of our need to understand the "kin-dom" of all creation. (That word is from a book Molly gave me to read,The Church of the Wild, which posits a similar re-thinking of our relationship with nature.
Loved this interesting story. Even as a card-carrying centrist I’m tempted to ask, tongue only somewhat in cheek, and with obvious exceptions, aren’t humans an invasive species?
Ha! That was a lot of qualifiers I'd say the answer is "yes!" I'm not even sure there are exceptions. Thanks for reading - and for asking.
Both delightful and thoughtful is your writing. I happen to love bullfrogs, despite having grown up in southeast Texas where toads were the more common amphibian. Perhaps the bullfrog has expanded there, as well. If it has, I hope that it’s presence adds without detriment, much as all humans do when given the grace which you’ve encouraged here.
It would appear, if Google can be trusted, that bullfrogs are considered native to mid-Texas but introduced to west Texas - which is illustrative of the topic at hand, don't you think? :) Thank you for making time to read and comment, Debra. Means a lot!
Love the zoom lens from the specifics of your frog to thinking about aliens back to her. Beautifully crafted tale that raises fascinating questions and unexpected insights.
Thanks, Sherry. Let me know if time allows you to listen to the radio interview linked at the end. I'd be interested in your thoughts.
Wow Betsy. I learned so much about the bullfrog. We have many frogs in our yard and a few made it to my biology class🥲... and lots of sweet noises from the nearby lake are heard at night.... Don't think ours are bullfrogs but they are green.. And seem to be happy... Reminds me of some favorite lines in the past....
"When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why
But, why wonder, why wonder?
I'm green and it'll do fine
It's beautiful and I think it's what I want to be"
Adult bullfrogs are harder to confuse with other frogs, because they're usually so big. But, there are so many different frog species - green ones even - that I can see why telling one from another might be tricky at first. LOVE the Kermit lines, Barry. What a great example he set for us!
I love reading your thoughts and learning from you. Sending gratitude ❤️
Thanks so much, Vicki. That is a lovely comment. Appreciate you, too!
Thanks so much! Linda and Tom (She would have been welcome in our pond)
I forgot you had a pond! I assume it's already populated with other bullfrogs, unless the herons have been busy. Thank you for the comment, Tom & Linda.
A great essay with some really excellent points.
And yes, I agree - she definitely came back to where she loved it best...
Thanks, Prue. Always nice to think of something finding a place to call "home." I don't think you have them down under - is that right?
We have a huge damaging toad in Northern Australia called the Cane Toad, which is gradually spreading across borders. But on our island, no - thus far just a wide variety of big and small native frogs with the most incredible array of vocal skill.
You've got me thinking about the dearth of frogs and toads in my yard for the last five years(or more)....here I was wondering if climate change has decimated the amphibian species that used to be my backyard companions : now I wonder if it is actually due to bullfrogs ?
Oh, gosh, Melody -- my impression is that in this part of the country, the balance is not skewed quite so dramatically as that - but I can't say I have anything really definitive to offer. Here, we still see frogs of all types. True amphibians need water, and we are not *that* close. Are you? What's gone missing? :(
Elizabeth, when we first moved to Ridgely, I had to be careful when walking or cutting the grass due to the amount of toads in the yard. Now, lately, I haven't seen a one , even though my yard is now mostly native plants,trees,and shrubs as well as a good number of raised beds.The one stand out has been the appearance of Bull frogs on occasion. It's kinda made me go hmmmm....
Your essay makes this lovely leap (!) from musing about a singular frog, to implications for our own human standing in the world. Very Beggins-esque! We (humans) need more such re-thinking of our need to understand the "kin-dom" of all creation. (That word is from a book Molly gave me to read,The Church of the Wild, which posits a similar re-thinking of our relationship with nature.