About 10 years ago, Jeff and I updated our backyard. Our boys had grown out of the play structure and we wanted to make the backyard more 'grown-up.' So, we put in a garden and most importantly...a water feature. Our landscaper designed a short stream of river rock that flowed into a small pond with the water originating from a bubble rock at the other end of the stream. The little stream meandered by a beautiful Colorado Blue Spruce that we love and into a lovely little pond. The sound of the water hitting the rocks from the bubble rock and streaming down into the little pond was like having a bit of nature in our suburban backyard...then more nature arrived.
Frogs...many, many frogs somehow found our little man-made oasis and made it their spring break destination every year for 10 years. It is still a mystery to me how this happened. We do live close to protected wetlands. Marshes, streams, and meadows that are maintained for wildlife are about 3 blocks away. In fact, we love that part of our neighborhood as the parks district has put in walking paths that stretch for miles and a couple play areas for kids. It is one of the great benefits of where we live. We are still in awe when we look out into our backyard and see a blue heron standing on the lawn or a duck duo snuggled into our wet grass for a rest. There are squirrels, raccoons, fox, coyote, and skunks a plenty as well...I will save the skunk stories for another blog!
Now back to the mystery of the frogs...every year about this time, at dusk we will hear one lone frog croaking in our backyard. Jeff and I will look at each other and say, "Oh no, here they come!" And, that is exactly what happens. Over about a weeks' time, one croaker becomes two, then four, then six, and, then suddenly we have the Hallelujah Chorus of 'frogdom' in our pond. How do they know our pond is there? Do the elder frogs get together right before spring and send out scouts to find the right destination for mating season? Do those scouts then once they have found nirvana for frogs let their brethren know they have had success and the masses arrive? How do they let them know? Is there a 'croaking chain' that echos back to the wetlands several blocks away? It is just an amazing occurrence that has happened without fail for 10 years straight.
Let's now talk about the Chorus. Wow, are those tiny little frogs loud! We have seen them frolicking in the pond and they are tiny...about the size of a quarter, really, they are that small. But, they pack the punch of a dozen slimy green Pavarottis. One frog, we call him the Conductor, will start the process. Around dusk you can hear one frog croaking...he just croaks alone in a rather rhythmic fashion and then another frog will join in. the amazing thing is the second frog always has a different tone to his croak than the first frog and they will alternate parts...they never croak at the same time. Then all of sudden, the entire cast chimes in...and, it is amazing! The whole pond comes alive with frog singing and it is loud! If you are sitting on our patio enjoying a glass of wine with friends, there are times that you cannot carry on a conversation above the 'frog roar.' We have, no kidding, gone inside on a summer night to continue conversations when we can no longer compete with the frogs.
You may ask at this point, "why don't you get rid of the frogs?" And, that would be a very fair question...and, we have tried. I have visions in my head of my mom wading in the pond wearing rubber gloves trying to catch them one at a time because the sound was keeping her awake during a visit. There were times that Jeff would go out to the pond in the middle of the night and try to quiet them...only to have the frogs get louder with a big F-you after his efforts. I even contacted the frog expert at the Oregon Zoo to find out if there was anything we could do to discourage 'Spring Break for Frogs' and his answer was..."you'll have to get rid of the pond." That's not going to happen...
So, here we are 10 years later. I am sitting here writing this blog today because as I fell asleep last night and as I came to life again this morning...I did so to the sound of the Frog Chorus...and, it is actually wonderful. I have come to depend on my slimy little friends for comfort...there is something very soothing about the pattern to their croaking, listening for the Conductor to start and then waiting for the crescendo of frog voices. Then there are the moments when the whole lot is in full voice and suddenly they all stop at exactly the same time as if by command from their leader. There is a reason why Sharper Image sells a Sleep Machine that contains the sound of frogs as a sleep enhancer...they are nature's little rhythmic calmers.
The mystery of 'why' still remains and unless Animal Planet wants to come out and do a documentary on the Muchow Frog Experience...I'll never know exactly what makes the frogs return year after year...but, I hope they never stop.
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