'Ol Granny Smith is Dying

Way back in the late 1970's, maybe it was 1977... maybe a little earlier, could be later... I'm not sure, but way back around there Ginger ate a Granny Smith Apple and put the seeds in a small pot that had once contained a live plant.  Against all odds a sprout emerged.  That sprout struggled to survive the environment of a small pot and trying to live in an office.  Sometimes getting water and sometimes not.  The little pot that served for years finally gave way to a bigger pot and years after that to another pot bigger still, maybe a 12 inch pot.

The tree was probably 9 or 10 years old before it even started to look like a tree.  It pretty much looked like a 36 inch stem with a few leaves along the way.  By the time the tree was about 15 years old it looked like a tree and, as I recall, had produced a single apple.

In 1995 Ginger and I moved to Texas and, of course, took our Granny Smith Apple Tree with us.  Once situated in Texas we re-potted the tree to a much larger pot and left it on our deck.  The tree seemed happy and with enough room to spread it's roots a bit it grew and also produced apples every year.  Granny Smith was pretty small for a tree.  Larger than a bonsai tree but nothing like a regular apple tree... about three or four feet tall from the soil line to the tallest branch.

In 2004 we moved to Grand Junction... the tree of us.  When we moved into our current home we decided to actually plant Granny Smith in the ground.... kind of like putting an old stallion out to pasture.  Granny loved her new home and grew to probably 5 feet or so and was producing apples every year.  The apples were on the small side and usually pretty bitter but we enjoyed them.

This summer Granny started shedding leaves on one side.  One of her branches died and we cut it off with the hopes that she would be OK.  Later more branches died.  Now Granny is only half the tree she used to be and we believe she is destined for the compost pile.

We'll let her die a natural death as you would afford your own Granny.  When her time has come we will take her to the compost site and she can help some other plants make our world a nicer place.

A New Visitor

This morning, Wednesday, started out pretty normal. I was up before the sun, checked my email, stumbled around the backyard with a coffee can full of bird seed and then settled down at the dining table to gaze out the window. My favorite time of day. As the sun finally peeked over the Grand Mesa I note there must be over 100 birds in the yard. The numbers have increased since I started spreading the seed around the yard in place of just putting seed in the feeder.

This morning I spied 4 Eurasian Doves. These guys are about 1/3 larger than the who-who birdies (mourning doves) and much lighter in color. A handsome bird. They, like many creatures in the U.S. today are not native. They were introduced to the Bahama's in the 1980's, populated Florida by the 1990's and are quickly spreading across the country.

I sat at the table alternating between coffee, my mystery novel and watching the circus in the yard. I was on the novel part of my rotation when I heard the birds flapping their wings. An unusual sound because of the noise... they were all exiting the yard at the same time. In a hurry it appeared. I looked up to see a Harrier Hawk zoom past the bird feeder just missing a finch or sparrow. The hawk continued on to the Mulberry Tree. I thought sure he had captured breakfast as I saw some feathers falling to the ground behind the tree. Apparently the feathers were from some bird crawling into the tree for safety because the hawk appeared shortly thereafter with nothing to show for all the panic that announced his arrival.

These hawks and I guess raptor's in general are amazing birds to watch. When I look at them they always look alert. Appear strong and vibrant. Somehow radiate a majestic, lofty demeanor. I always feel honored to be able to watch these birds. Too rare a treat for this 'ol guy.

I tried to get a picture but when he was close enough for a photo the window screen was in the way and by the time I was able to move he had moved to sit atop one of the bird houses. I got a couple of pictures of him there but they only look like a silhouette.

It seems to me the raptor's come by in the early spring and, more often, in the fall. We rarely see them around our yard during the hot summer days. As the fall season pushes summer away I expect more visits from the raptor family... hope so anyway.

Baby Toad Update

Remember the two baby toads I put in the pot trellis garden?  One sat on the tip of my finger and the other was rescued from the dreaded skimmer just a few days ago with pictures.  I'm here to report that both are doing just fine.  Ginger and I saw them today and they are fat little creatures.  Apparently not having any problems finding things to eat.

I was looking closely around the ground cover and small flowers in the garden and there is a plethora of small flying creatures, gnats or something similar.  I'm sure the abundance of small insects like that keep our babies happy with a high protein diet.

Like most baby creatures... they are so cute.

Another Survivor... Dontchaloveit?

I've started to check the skimmer every day if not twice a day. The thought of one of those little toads fight'n for hours and then getting sucked into the filter mat or taking the "joy ride" through the pump impellers and pipe to the bio-falls is just a bit much for my sensitive side.

I didn't find any toads on Thursday but I found another little tiny guy on Friday. He was in the basket swimming for all he was worth. I have no idea where they get the energy to fight the current.

I took out the skimmer basket with mini-toad inside and convinced him to get into my hand. Ginger was thinking and retrieved the camera.

As you can see in these pictures this guy is really small.

It has occurred to me that there has to be a "break point" where they have to live in the water versus preferring to live on land. I hope I'm making the right decision of putting them in the garden under the pot trellis.

On the other hand, it is only about 10 feet from there to the pond so if they want to climb back into the pond it isn't all that far... unless your only about a half inch long...

If you double click on the pictures you should be able to see (open) the original picture which is BIG and full of detail.  If that doesn't work let me know...

Happy Anniversary #1

Today is our 1 Year Anniversary for this Frog Blog!

Over the course of the last 365 days I've published over 100 blog entries.  I've become eligible to apply for social security.  Named the ponds... Skimmer, Joe's Pond, Bridge Pond, No-name Pond.  Had visits by my son and daughter and my grandkids.  Drained the pond... a couple of times... once on purpose.  Got the wall to wall carpet cleaned.  Installed a wood floor in my computer room.  Painted the walls too.  I've observed a plethora of different bird visits including raptors of various varieties.  Shoveled snow.  Watched it hail.  Fed about 200 pounds of seed to our fine feathered friends.  Watched 3 batches of Woodhouse's Toads hatch only to have most die overnight.  Put about 7000 miles on my truck.  Put about 2 miles on my wheelbarrow.  We found 2 snake skins in the yard.  Discovered Joe the bird eating bull frog.  Had my 26th wedding anniversary.  Welcomed Joe back this past spring.  Rebuilt 3 waterfalls while learning the joys of "yucky pucky."  Wondered about Joe vanishing in June.  Planted 4 new trees.  Discovered toadlets that had grown into baby toads.  Chased rabbits from the yard.  Found a leak in the pond.  I've made 8 slide shows.  Witnessed an unusual amount of rain. Bought a new car for my wife.  Pulled string algae from the bridge pond.  Installed 2 new pond pumps or had 2 pumps quit which ever way you want to look at it.  Started the fake rock project... the ongoing fake rock project.  Named the waterfalls... Bio-Falls, No-name Falls, Humpty Dumpty Falls and Joe's Station.  Installed some fence on the side of the house.  Saved a trapped toad and also a trapped Joe.  Built shelves in the closet.  Saw a squirrel try to jump the pond.  Started a new web site.  Bought a savings bond.  Used almost 5 pounds of sugar feeding humming birds.  Built a pot trellis.  Started my Slide Show web site.  Keep discovering baby toads... they are alive too!

There is more but I'm probably losing my audience...

Happy Anniversary y'all...

More Skimmer Toads!

I decided I needed to be checking the skimmer more often based on the latest discovery of the 2 baby toads found on Tuesday.  To that end on Wednesday morning I removed the lid and peered into the swirling water that was littered with debris.  Besides a little foam and a bunch of crud I didn't see anything.  I decided to remove the skimmer basket and search inside the skimmer itself.

And there, right at the bottom of the skimmer basket, was the tiniest toad I've see yet.  Slightly smaller than the one I retrieved on Tuesday.   This little guy was submerged and hang'n on to the bottom of the skimmer.  At first I thought he was dead... well, actually, at first I thought it was a small slug... but when I tipped the basket he crawled uphill.  WOW... another one. 

I'm no longer amazed... I'm what ever is beyond amazed.  These little creatures keep showing up when so many of their brothers didn't make it.  How in the world did they survive?

I took this guy and put him in the flowers by the pot trellis.  He sat on the ground cover for a few minutes and then hopped under the flowers. 

They are very small.  About the size of the fingernail of my pinkie finger.  I have hopes of someday remembering to have my camera at the ready so I can share with my blog fans how cute and small these critters are.

On another note:  Remember the frogs that were captured at my daughters place?  I asked her to mail me a few.  Would you believe she put them in an envelope and sent them?  Naw, I wouldn't either... she didn't.  They would never have survived the stamp cancellation process.  Everyone knows that....

2 New Toad Discoveries... Yep 2!!

The flapper on the front of my skimmer basket broke last week when I was cleaning the skimmer. It had been repaired once a few years ago so I wasn't all that put out to buy a new one.

The part came in Tuesday morning. Before installing it in the skimmer basket I cleaned the leaves and crud that had accumulated. When I went to re-install the basket I noticed a very small toad try'n it's best to swim out of the skimmer.

This little guy gave it his all. He was doing a cross between a frog kick and breast stroke and just made it out. He swam over to the side of the skimmer pond and was breath'n hard. I left him to recoup his energy and after about 30 minutes he was gone (not back to the skimmer).

I then returned to the skimmer to install the basket when I noticed another toad baby. This was was half the size of the previous one and had zero chance of getting out of the skimmer as long as the pump was going. I reached in and scooped him up. He clung to the tip of my finger. In fact, he was about the size of my finger tip. Very small. He too must have been exhausted because he didn't try to get away. I took him over the the garden under the pot trellis and deposited him on a plant. A few minutes later he was not to be found.

Tuesday was a great day in the baby toad arena. To think at one time I thought they had all died... I've learned a lesson about Ma Nature.

Now if Joe would return.....

Frogs in the Family...

My daughter lives in the mountains northwest of Ft. Collins, Colorado with her husband and 2 sons.  Of course she is an avid reader of the Frog Blog to the point of grump'n at me if I'm slow to follow-up on a post.  So whatever it is that got me going about Joe, Woody and et Alia I guess has genetic origins.

She sent me this picture:

You can click on the picture to view the original sized picture.

They scouted around their home and captured about 45 of these little guys.  We think they are Boreal Chorus Frogs.

Here is a closeup of the frogs highlighted by the bottom of the pan.

Cute little guys don't you think? 

The Boreal Chorus Frogs  can be found around permanent water bodies in cleared land and forest. Males make a "reeeek" call from grasses, vegetation or just hang'n around on the ground near their water homes from April through to September. Unlike most amphibians, the boreal has a soft croak instead of a loud one like their noisy cousins. This frog is normally one of the first amphibian to emerge in spring, it is often found while snow and ice are still present.

The Boreal Chorus Frog is technically know as Pseudacris Maculata.  It is a species of chorus frog native to Canada from the west of Lake Superior to western Alberta and north to the North West Territories. It occurs in the USA throughout Montana, northwestern Wisconsin, northeastern Arizona, northern New Mexico and southwestern Utah.  Did I leave out Colorado?  I wonder if they are also in Wyoming?

So here is a word to the wise.  If you plan on stop'n by either my place or my daughters you best have had your Frog Blog inoculation or you too may start hunt'n for frogs in your yard or down by the lake.  You can take that piece of information to the bank!

Doldrum Days 'n Hot August Nights

Back in a past life I learned about sailing.  I went to sailing school both in the classroom and on the water.  I learned a lot of things... one of which was about the doldrums.   The dictionary has a couple of definitions for doldrum but I've always associated the word with the area of ocean, near the equator, where the winds are light and sometimes less than that and there is a lot of rain.  Technically it's called the inter-tropical convergence zone but doldrums sounds a lot better.

My backyard has a resemblance to the doldrums.  The wind comes gently from the north for a while and then from the west.  In the morning it's usually from the southeast.  Then, sometimes, the doldrums move away.  Then a whole can of "whup'ass" jumps out.  The wind blows, the trees are bent over and the birds have taken cover.  The lightening flashes and thunder booms.  It might rain or hail a little and then, in a snap, it all disappears.  Colorado weather.

I'm just telling you this story because the doldrums have settled in my back yard.

One time I was sailing out in Corpus Christi Bay with some friends.  We were in my Gulfstar 39 which was a heavy seaworthy boat.  We were changing direction when a puff of cool air touched my face and was then gone.  Everyone thought I was nuts when I said we had to take down the sails and head for home.  I insisted and soon we were on our way but we had miles to go.  Within 30 minutes of that cool puff of air, the horizon turned black and a hellacious storm struck.  Of course we had to go directly into the wind for miles to get home.  It took hours.  We were all soaked to the bone but since I'm writing this blog one must assume I made home alive.

The sailing story is here because the weather is changing.  Oh it's still hot and it's still summer but every now and again I feel that little puff of air that is the first hint of fall.  The birds know it's coming.  The hummers are drinking the sweet water like there is no tomorrow.  I'm filling the hummer juice bar twice a week now. They are put'n on the fat for the trip south.  Did you know some migrate all the way to Central America and some into South America! 

In Reno, Nevada they have a city wide celebration every year.  It's called "Hot August Nights."  My sister used to live in Reno so I had occasion to be there one year to participate in the celebration.  I can attest to the hot part.  Well, I can attest to the August and night part too.  It was a fun time.  They had all kinds of old cars cruising, lots of free activities and things to see.  There were popular stars in the clubs performing extra shows.  Dancing in the streets and a lot of happy people.  No doldrums there.

There is no real reason for me to have told you the Reno story other than it's August.

So there you have it.  If anyone ever asks you about the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone you know what to say.

Batch II or III Toadlet Sighting!

At least one out of thousands managed to survive!  On the first Sunday in August Ginger saw a fairly large toadpole in the Bridge Pond.  When she was telling me about it she said, "I thought it was dead because it just sat on the rock.  It was about an inch long and pretty fat.  I moved closer to get a better look and guess I spooked it.  It swam down and disappeared between some rocks."

So there you have it folks.  A toadlet sighting from a reliable source.  Be they tenacious or be they lucky or be they both, at least a few of the thousands managed to survive.  Amazing... just amazing.

Real Rock to Hide Fake Rock

When I was a youngster, way back when frogs had tails and ruled the world, my mother bought a Chinese bar. It was hand carved and painted gold, red and black with some Chinese writing on it. It even came with some old empty bottles and a musty smell.

What drew my mother to purchase the thing is unknown to me. I think it may have been pretty much unknown to everyone actually. My mom took a whole bunch of teasing and harassment about the thing over the course of her years.  My mom's first name was Olive and the bar became known as "Olive's Folly."

Fast forward to the present time. I'm beginning to think there is a genetic link between my mom's Chinese bar and my fake rock. I suspect I may have paid more for the fake rock and supporting items than my mom paid for the bar even if you adjust for inflation between now and when frogs had tails and ruled the world.

So with this inherited "folly" syndrome once again surfacing to take over what most would call rational judgment, I set out to camouflage the fake rock by putting real rocks around it.  I'm not sure that's even logical but if it were then maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be a folly.

This past week I went to the rock yard with the intention of purchasing some granite stones to use in the FRCF (Fake Rock Camouflage Folly). I picked up 4 rocks. One was kinda heavy and I needed both hands to lift it, the other 3 I picked up with one hand. When I went to pay for them the weight was 120 pounds and that was $17 and change! I bought them. Geez, I live in the rocky mountains for cry'n out loud and here I paid $17 for 4 smallish rocks.

I've surely lost my mind.

I placed my 4 professional granite rocks in front of the fake rock. It helps but I think I need more granite rocks.

The next granite rocks will be amateurs as professional rocks quickly priced themselves out of my league.

Do you think there is a relationship between "folly" and "folicle challenged?"