Environmentally Friendly Backyard

It is hard to believe it's late October. Once again it was eighty degrees today here in south central Pa. The tomatoes and peppers in our garden continue to produce heartily. In fact, this has been the best year for tomatoes in all of the ten years we've lived at this location. In that time we've worked hard to make our backyard as environmentally friendly and inviting to wildlife as possible. I suppose our garden could actually be considered totally organic now. During these ten years we've used no chemical fertilizers or chemicals on it. We were pleasantly surprised this summer when we began discovering frogs living in our small backyard pond. We were thrilled to learn one had taken residence here. Then each new day brought more sitings until we counted five of the little critters. Most of them seem incredibly friendly, like they've been here and came to know us and trust us before we ever began spotting them. I have to wonder how unusual it is for them to still be out there sunning themselves and feasting on insects at this time of year? How does this unusual warmth affect such species? I've not yet found the time to identify just what kind of frogs they are yet. The weather has just been to nice to be indoors doing research this Fall. Perhaps it will soon become more seasonal and afford plenty of time for that. We were also talking today about perhaps we should name the frogs. But the time must surly be fast approaching that they will be going into hibernation for the winter. That, too, may be a project left until the weather gets cold. That way when they re-emerge next Spring they will have names awaiting them. Ha ha.

Anyway, it has been some time since I've written in my blog and decided tonight to just do a speedy entry.