Here we are, still in April 2026. This cheerful little fellow is an American Toad, and we have just passed Toad Day, 2026. That's the day the American Toads descend upon this part of the country and spread their Toad Joy around to all of us.
They were not very noisy (though they can be), but they were abundant. And this little fellow does seem joyful. Here are a few more of them, at least one pair in the process of mating!
Here are a few more American Toads.
I got all excited when I saw the Toads, but it was because at first I thought the Frogs were back. Now I'm happy to have relived Toad Day again. When I had the first Blog on the college's website, I got to witness this occasion every year! The American Toads would wander in from afar and mate to their hearts' content. They would trill and trill all night! They would lay their eggs in strings on the plants in the Pond. (I haven't spotted the strings yet from this year's mating. But maybe soon!) (Of course, there aren't many plants in the Pond so far this year. Here are a few more American Toads. They could be young ones or females. I didn't hear much trilling during the night this year, although last night I did hear one breakthrough trill song.
Here is what looks (to me) like a (smaller) male mating with a (larger) female Toad.
Here are some more mating pairs. I don't know what the shiny "glasses" on the eyes (first picture) are.
Some more mating toads! Picture 2 is my favorite!
Some more. I hope this helps to satisfy your love for critter sex!
Here are some of the fishes that Chaim put into the pond a few weeks ago.
Here is that Periwinkle (minor) from last week. And then the orange flowering Quince blossoms, just opening for this week!
The blue Squills (Scylla) are so pretty, but then a passing lady told me that they are invasive. So come drop by and pick the pretty blue flowers and take them home to ejoy. At least these Primroses are pretty and I don't know a single bad thing about their appearance in the Spring Garden, so I slammed my ears shut as the passing lady was making her comment.
Well, it was a lovely week out there. My annual snotty nose did kick in just in time to keep everything from being too perfect. (My Flute Ensemble group was supposed to have performed yesterday - Can't have that, you know! They went on without me!). But on the whole, it was just beautiful. People would stop while I was out taking pictures and add to my pleasure with their common enjoyment of the Spring, but I was having trouble breathing. This was probably the high point of getting out there with the camera! On the other hand, here is the Birthday puzzle, a gift from my son Chaim, which I started on my Birthday, August 26, and finally completed solving last night.) I'm going to frame it for keeps!
So, everyone, I hope your week has been awesome too. And so will be your next one, and the next, etc. The best presents will always be the love you feel for the people in your life and at your birthday party if they can make it! Love, Martha
Oh my goodness. I keep forgetting to remember to post the wonderful Prelude to the Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, written back in times when English was not fixed in our stone. I try to post it every April!
Whan that Aprille with her shoures soote (soute)? (sweet)
The Droughts of March hath perced to the roote,
and Bathed ev'ry vein in swich lichoeur
of which vertu engendred is the flour
Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes and the yonge Sonne
Hath in the RAM his Halwe-course yronne
When smalle foules maken melodie
That slepen all the nicht with open eye
(So priken hem Natur in hir corages)
Than longen folk to seken straunge strondes
And ferne halwes couth in sondry londes
The holy blisful Martyr for to seke
That hem hath holpen whan that they were seke...
This is as far as I get every year - almost the same each time. This is an example of long-term memory - who needs short-term? People delight in reminding me that short-term memory is the more important, and make fun of those whose pleasure is in reconstructing this delightful Preamble. Where is Jim Cook nowadays, who used to join me in this recitation? Where are the others? Let's vow to keep at least the Preamble alive for all of them, all of us!
Happy Spring to all of us!
