OK, so I like frogs. When David and I saw this cute cotton rug at the market, I just had to buy it for our chart house. So when you take a look down the companionway ladder–you get a very froggy welcome. I’ve always liked the frogs in stories–Kermit being my favorite Muppet and all. Between frogs and toads, I’m an equal opportunity person. Frogs in the water and toads in the garden. For several years, my father puttered happily around his garden with his friend–a huge toad helping keep the bug population at bay. Dad was a lucky gardener to have that toad. I liked the toad because he was cute, Dad liked him for more practical reasons. According to www.gardeningknowhow.com, attracting toads is the dream of many gardeners. There, I learned what Dad already know–having toads in the garden is very beneficial as they naturally prey on insects, slugs and snails in a big way: up to 10,000 in a single summer! Having a resident toad keeps the pest population down and reduces the need for harsh pesticides or more labor-intensive natural controls.

There are some great “myths” about frogs that I think about when I see our little green friend. The one I like the best is that frogs are a symbol of good luck. Really. In Japan there’s a little myth that bullfrogs are descended from a great ancestor who could suck all the mosquitoes out of a whole room in a single breath! If we’re ever in the California Delta at the wrong time of year–I’ll sic my rug on ’em!