D'vorahDavida
Yetzirah

What Is In The Ivy Patch?
Tue May 01 2007

For a few weeks now, Sunny and Hamlet have been keeping an eye on the corner of the back yard that is covered in ivy. They will sit and stare at it for long periods of time, looking for all the world as if they are watching it grow.

Occasionally, they will step gingerly into the ivy patch and cautiously stick their nose down into it. I keep chasing them out and shooing them away, but it does no good. Pretty soon, they are back over there messing around.

Now I know why.

I decided to go trim that ivy back because frankly the stuff is getting a little uppity and encroaching in an alarming way upon my hydrangea (which is showing all the signs of a grand bloom this year, thank the Lord). I'm rather fond of that hydrangea and since it didn't have one flower on it last season., I'm eagerly awaiting them this year.

So I started whacking away at the ivy this morning and right away heard a rustle, and saw something move. I considered getting myself a good stout stick to poke around with because suddenly the reach of my hand pruners didn't seem nearly long enough. Well, I gathered my courage and lifted up some of the leaves to reveal a quite large toad hole. Both ends are very visible, and judging by the size of the thing, there is one big honkin' toad living in the ivy.

Mystery solved.

I have no idea what Sunny and Hamlet would do if they actually DID flush Mr. Big Honkin' Toad out of his mud hut, but I have the feeling that said toad would win.

The dog and the cat make a very big brave show, but they are cowards, the pair of them.

Now at least I will know what to say to them when next I shoo them away from that corner.

"You better leave that big honkin' toad alone, He might bite your nose off just for fun!"


[album 65561 toad2.JPG]

"Damn straight."

Toad by:David Clayton, Andrew Silke




7 Comments
  • From:
    Pragmatist (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue May 01 2007
    Aha! Mystery solved. But when will Mr. Big Honkin' Toad come out of his mud cave and start clearing the garden of noxious bugs? That's his job, isn't it?

    Let's have a picture of the hydrangea when she's showing her glory. OK?

    Shalom
  • From:
    Mamallama (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue May 01 2007
    Well, my first thought was it must be
    THE Mr. Toad that fills in for Little Red when she is away or under the weather. Perhaps I am right? :o)
  • From:
    SerendipityDuck (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue May 01 2007
    Oh how cool. Can you get a picture? I would love to get a peek at Mr Toad.

    Paula
  • From:
    Dustbunny3 (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue May 01 2007
    One good bug eater for sure. They have a very bad taste to any critter who trys to due them harm. He/She is a keeper.
  • From:
    InStitches (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed May 02 2007
    I'd be ok as long as the toad stayed under the ivy. I'm not so sure what I would do if I came face to face..... probably my best cowardly lion impression wringing tail and all.

    By the way, that Iris is a beauty. I used to have some that color, but they died out. Such an attitude; they actually expected me to go out, dig them up and divide them. I should have listened. *sigh*
  • From:
    ImNotLisa (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed May 02 2007
    How very funny! Oliver sits and does the exact same thing under one of the bird feeders, just stares at the ground oblivious to everything else around him. I'm not sure why but don't think it's a frog. With my luck it's a snake or really big spider. Yuck!
  • From:
    Parett (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed May 02 2007
    Well, if they break out in 'big honkin' warts, you'll know why. ;o]