And I’ve the pictures to prove it – the frog whispering that is.
This handsome amphibian and I gave each other a shock on Sunday morning. I was tidying up the overgrowth of self-sown columbines and lady’s mantle outside the kitchen door. And there he was under a columbine leaf. We both froze, until I thought to grab my camera. By then he was on the move, but froze again as the Lumix closed in. Being Sunday I was finding it hard to focus, and thinking he was about to flee, I started talking to him very quietly. And darn me, if he didn’t sit right up and listen:
I don’t know how well frog-human relations have been documented beyond that seminal work of the Brothers Grimm, but I can report there was no clinch, and thus no princely transformation. And it being an unfocused Sunday morning, as I said, I soon ran out of things to talk about and so returned to garden work, while he hopped off to his drain pipe in the wall. A brief encounter then. We will probably never meet again. But at least I have the photos. I can dream…
copyright 2016 Tish Farrell
Never seen a prettier frog!
Love the idea of him listening to your calm speaking ….
Thank you, Anna.
Wonderful Tish!
And I think he is hanging out still – lurking in the foliage – because he obviously likes your voice and energy – like your readers do via blog (croak)
🐸🐸🐸
So good to know I have frog-appeal, Yvette 🙂
Ha!
What a charming post and wonderful shots, Tish!
Thank you, Sarah.
What a handsome frog…and such a smooth talker you are, Tish!
LOL.
😀😀
My contribution to human-frog relationship is drawn from an anecdote or rather prohibitions we had as children. It was not forbidden to kill a frog and the consequences we were informed would be dire. To this end, I can only say my people’s relationship with frogs was a live and let live kind of policy
Thank you for your excellent contribution to this important line of enquiry, Noel. We need to know where we stand with frogs 🙂
Definitely, we must know. For both theirs and our sake
A couple of cool pictures.
Thanks, Michael.
A handsome frog is he!
He is indeed, Denny
you’ve a knack all right Tish – frog prince perhaps?
What a beautiful specimen…..:):)
Also an interesting shade of pale ochre. Don’t think I’ve seen one quite this colour before.
He obviously realized you would were the right person to show off his handsome portrait.
Modern day fairy tale…..frog prince
This is such a handsome frog, Sue. Lovely photos!
Warm greetings to you from Norfolk,
Dina & co
“The seminal works of the brothers Grimm”! I love it, and the continuation of the reference. He’s a handsome enough prince as is. A thoroughly enjoyable post.
What a sweetie he is! A precious chance encounter. 🙂
Your very own ‘Brief encounter’, Tish! Are you selling the movie rights? You have a handsome male lead. 🙂 🙂 Love it!
Ha! Jo. You’ve got the job. I name you THE DIRECTOR. You can have your own chair. Let’s get shooting.
I need one of those hats with the visor for ‘the look’. Wait right there! 🙂
Cool visor will be provided. It will so suit you too 🙂
I do believe these amphibians have a firm aversion to being spoken to in French, especially if it involves any sort of wooing or the term .cuisses de grenouilles.
You can guess why I’m sure?
I shall ban all such utterances chez Farrell. Thanks for pointing out this serious sensitivity 😉
Googled your rather excellent Sunday photo.
For general edification.
.
Common Frog
The common frog (Rana temporaria). Often seen from March to October their lifespan is approx 6 years. The male is approx 70mm long while the female is slightly larger. Although called the common frog their existence is diminishing due to the use of chemicals and their natural habitats being destroyed.
Once found in abundance in rural areas these frogs are now seeking refuge in urban gardens. Here though they are faced with a whole new set of problems such as cats and feasting on slugs that have been poisoned with pellets.
So this was a fortunate encounter and one to be treasured!
Slug pellets – there’s the rub. Oh dear!
I try to maintain a live and let live attitude toward all things that creep crawl fly or run these days. We have a few fruit trees in the garden that we neither cover or spray ( too risky of anything toxic getting into the pond).
Consequently, we don’t get to eat much fruit, but the birds have a field day when the plums, figs and peaches begin to ripen. And we get to see loads of birds, some of which also like bugs; so I like to think everything balances out in the end.
And everyone’s happy!
Cute. I am sorry you didn’t kiss him. Who will ever know now what a handsome prince lurks beneath that drab exterior.
You know … a kiss might have turned him into a prince. Just saying.
A frog whisperer, eh? First one I’ve ever met.
janet
You sure you didn’t even blow him a kiss, Tish. Of course, I don’t believe in such, but, then again, it couldn’t hurt. 🙂
I shall go and peer up his drain pipe and see if he’s in. Then give it a go 🙂
Maybe you should wait until he exits the drain pipe. It could get ugly real fast if you don’t. 🙂
I do love Frogs – you just don’t see them around as much as I used too as a child it seems (but that could just be childsight).
No, your impression it seems is spot on. There are less frogs and toads.
That is sad. The world diminishes.
Some of the very best bits too 😦
Oh you will meet again, your garden is his home now!
Lovely. Made me smile.
I love frogs but rarely see them nowadays.They are so “other”.
That’s a good way to describe them so ‘other’.
Yes, they so are.:)
He is adorable. What a great shot of him! Is he the psychoactive type?
Hopefully not! English frogs are usually gentle creatures – unless they start learning to fight back of course. They do seem to be reduced in numbers these days.