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margaret roach, head gardener

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under cover: secret-agent frog reports for duty

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frog in disguiseYOU’D THINK HE WOULD HAVE NOTICED when he lumbered up and out of the little garden pond to his favorite perch, that he had an oak leaf stuck to his back, but no. This bullfrog spent the entire day Friday in undercover guise–as if his dull winter skin color wasn’t camouflage enough. Or maybe the brittle old leaf was some kind of frogalicious fashion statement? I often wonder what goes on in the minds of frogs.

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23 comments
April 10, 2011

comments

  1. Bob Scherer says

    April 10, 2011 at 2:04 pm

    Definitely a fashionista frog.

    Reply
  2. Juanita says

    April 10, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    Very zen :-)

    Reply
  3. Sophia says

    April 10, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    Margaret,

    Looking forward to your next book, “The Life and Times of Frogs”, (with photos, of course). Could be a comedy!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Sophia

    Reply
  4. Catherine says

    April 10, 2011 at 5:52 pm

    Margaret, I am particularly fond of frogs… your guy has mine feeling frumpy!

    Reply
  5. Jean says

    April 10, 2011 at 6:11 pm

    Perhaps it was a more practically-minded approach: protecting his tender winter skin from a first-of-the-season sun indulgence- though I have to admit, it’s a damn good look! Methinks Gaga would agree.

    Reply
  6. Peg Lotvin says

    April 10, 2011 at 6:46 pm

    From the look in his eyes, he didn’t want you to notice him. Love your frogs…….and all frogs.

    Reply
  7. Lynda Chernek says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    Being a frog lover that I am . . . I agree with Juanita . . . very ZEN :)

    Reply
  8. Kaveh says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:16 pm

    I think he might be inspecting the pond heater. Making sure it is in working order in case there are more cold nights before summer.

    Reply
  9. Bethany says

    April 10, 2011 at 9:37 pm

    He almost looks like a statue. It must be fun to have such a content resident enjoying your pond!

    Reply
    • Margaret says

      April 10, 2011 at 10:21 pm

      Welcome, Lynda. Zen, inded. They are frozen in place, the frogs. As if by being still nobody can see them.

      Welcome, Bethany. Statue is exactly right. Glad to meet another frog lover.

      See you both soon again, I hope.

      Reply
  10. bavaria says

    April 11, 2011 at 8:13 am

    Like Jean, my first thought was that it looks like some sort of heavy duty sunscreen. Fashion, camouflage, and sun protection…what a clever frog!

    Reply
  11. norma says

    April 11, 2011 at 1:00 pm

    I don’t know…he has a rather “oh lordy” sort of look on his face. I only have toads cute but not as cute as this fellow. Aren’t you the lucky girl.

    Reply
    • Margaret says

      April 11, 2011 at 1:39 pm

      Hi, Norma. He is one very fat and happy bullfrog, despite just coming out from a long winter’s nap! There are more than 15 frogs today (the first warm, sunny day) out at pond-side, and it’s hilarious, like the club pool or something. See you soon.

      Reply
  12. Hannah Moore says

    April 11, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    Hi Margaret,
    I love frogs too. How do you attract them to your garden? I don’t have one yet (a garden that is), but my husband and I are planning on living in a suburb with not a lot of nature around and I was wondering if there is any way to attract frogs in areas where there are no ponds etc. around?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Margaret says

      April 11, 2011 at 4:21 pm

      Welcome, Hannah. Having a water feature is the key; I have 2 little homemade in-ground pools with recirculating water (in warm weather) and a floating de-icer (to keep a hole open so gases can escape and the frogs don’t suffocate) in winter. As soon as I created water, with these rubber-fabric-lined pools, I got frogs. With toads they love cool spots like large rocks and behind the stone steppers and so on, so creating habitat in general is the key (again, mostly water!). And not using chemicals; these creatures can’t thrive if there are chemicals killing off what they eat, and poisoning them in the process.

      Reply
  13. Hannah Moore says

    April 12, 2011 at 9:00 am

    Thanks for your help. I can’t wait to get my own garden:)

    Reply
  14. Jane in CT says

    April 12, 2011 at 1:05 pm

    Maybe he had an eye out for one of those oh-so-sophisticated wood frog darlings and chose the leaf to spruce himself up.

    “See, Sweetie? I can blend into your world if you want to jump together. After all, this is your color, isn’t it?” “No? You like that fellow with the orange flush? Bummer. If you change your mind, I’ll be here, waiting.”

    Reply
  15. Margit Van Schaick says

    April 12, 2011 at 4:52 pm

    No wonder you’re so fond of your frogs! They’re so entertaining and lovable.

    Reply
  16. Stacy M says

    April 12, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    I love this frog

    Reply
  17. JEFF says

    April 13, 2011 at 7:36 am

    I love you Margaret!!!!

    Reply
    • Margaret says

      April 13, 2011 at 10:13 am

      Thanks, Jeff, and welcome. The frogs and I send our very best to you.

      Reply
  18. Aimee says

    April 14, 2011 at 3:18 pm

    Hahaha! How hysterical – thanks for sharing this one…I can hear the theme music playing just looking at him.

    What a wonderful, insightful, informational, humorous, lovely and highly inspirational site and garden you have. I am so glad a friend directed me to your site and I look forward to keeping up with it and finding ideas for my own (very new!) garden.

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Margaret says

      April 15, 2011 at 6:51 am

      Welcome, Aimee. So glad you found us (and so glad I found Andre all those years ago to keep me laughing!). And BTW, I have red gardening clogs, too. :) See you soon!

      Reply

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Podcast: Soups, Soups & More Soups

I’VE FOLLOWED a vegetarian diet for decades, but it wasn’t until just a few years ago that I mastered a really good vegetable soup. Now I’m learning variations on vegetable-based soups, plus ones with beans and even ideas for mushroom soups, too–all thanks to Alexandra Stafford and these recipes. (Stream it below, read the transcript or subscribe free.)

https://robinhoodradioondemand.com/podcast-player/6211/vegetable-soup-ideas-with-ali-stafford-november-5-a-way-to-garden-with-margaret-roach.mp3

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Welcome! I’m Margaret Roach, a leading garden writer for 25 years—at ‘Martha Stewart Living,’ ‘Newsday,’ and in three books. I host a public-radio podcast; I also lecture, plus hold tours at my 2.3-acre Hudson Valley (NY) Zone 5B garden, and always say no to chemicals and yes to great plants.

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