February Days

The rain has finally stopped.

Our state has endured the most rainfall on record in the past 139 years for the month of February, rivers are out of their banks, livestock has been moved to higher ground.

The grass is growing at a crazy rate, the little toad house has been occupied more than once this rainy season, the frogs are happy....

 

🐸 

 

Blackberry Winter

We've been having a cold spell the past several days.
Old-timers in the South know this as Blackberry Winter, or Dogwood Winter, which mainly describes a brief period of cold weather that coincides with the time the blackberries are in bloom, or the dogwoods are blooming, (typically in early to mid May).

The colder temperatures, and three days of non-stop rain, have sent the birds back to the coziness of their nests.

There's nary a bird in sight.
 

 

 

 

The First Sergeant managed to clean out the pond before the rains came. Sitting on the bottom was a large frog, I'm not sure if it was Igor our amorous calling frog from last year, time will tell....

 

 

 

Froggie Went A-Courtin'

We have a new visitor taking up residence at the pond, a young frog.
He's been making his amorous calls day and night, summoning any eligible female within earshot to venture his way.
Last week, I witnessed a new croaking sound, followed by another, apparently his persistence has paid off.

Cold, wet leaves
Floating on moss-colored water
And the croaking of frogs -
Cracked bell-notes in the twilight.

~ The Pond, Amy Lowell