I received this email from Ronda Green recently and I asked her if I could share it with you. I just love hearing about other peoples experiences with frogs in their backyards.

We put in a small frog pond a couple of years ago, with some water weeds collected from the creek and a bit of nardoo. We surrounded it on three sides with Dianella and other dense low vegetation, partly for the appearance, partly for other wildlife, and partly to deter cane toads which seem to like more open ground.

On wet warm nights we often see and hear the ornate burrowing frog calling while floating in the water. We also have spotted marsh frogs, green tree frogs and common sedge frogs using it, plus freshwater snails that came in with the water weed.

We bought six native Pacific blue-eye fish to control mosquito larvae without eating tadpoles but they don’t seem to have survived (perhaps taken by birds). There are other frogs on the property that don’t seem to have discovered the pond yet.

The first pond we tried to make before this was done mixing bondcrete with cement, overlain on sand and plastic sheeting, with some natural local rock embedded into the concrete. Then we coated all with bonddcrete as well but it still leaked. This time we bought a ready-made pond from Bunnings and put rocks around the edge, overlapping in an attempt to disguise the black plastic. Doesn’t look quite as good but working well for the frogs.

Our pool pump died and while we organised to get it and the filter replaced the pool lay dormant and fermenting. So, as the sun set, out would come my three lovely boys calling and croaking and frolicking in the big, greeny puddle. Diving to the bottom with long, strong strokes and then floating languidly to the top, legs akimbo. Calling all the while with their distinctive Brrrrrrr, Grok, Grok.

But as the days became hot and hotter still, the need to return the pool to it’s former use became stronger and stronger. What else to do? The pool was needed for human consumption! So, one seeringly hot day, the deadly chemicals were broadcast across the surface of this green mire, to fall silently to the bottom, in wait. And as the bright orb of the sun went down that night, and the nearly-full moon lit up the yard, out came my three lovely boys, calling and croaking, unawares.

The next night was bright and ominously silent. Horror! Searching and calling, my children and I patrolled the yard with torches. No luck. Lying in my quiet bed, the recriminations began. What could I have done. No use scooping them out and returning them to their pond all night, they would only return again and again to their favourite spot. Without their chorus I could not find sleep.

The next day, with the pump and filter now fully operational, the pool was cleaned, and the full tragedy of recent events was revealed. Amongst the litter gathered in the skimmer were the remains of one of my big eyed boys. Oh, murderess!

That night, by the light of the no longer full moon, my son and I held a mid-night vigil. With torches in hands we searched for more evidence of the fate of my froggie friends. One boy sat on the edge of the scene of the crime, watching, not tempted to plunge to the depths of this watery grave. And from afar, in the neighbours back yard, we heard the call of a lone frog, soft and sad. Had my frog defected, set out alone, away from this hostile land? Betrayal! But who could blame him, really?

So now, one dead, one gone, but still one remains.

Great Excitement In My Backyard!
I have long suspected that I have more than one male motorbike frog in my backyard. All that noise could not possibly be made by just one lone male. And recently it was confirmed that I have infact two boys competing for attention with their melodic calls.

But tonight – joy of joys – as I was watering my garden and topping up the water in my Koi pond I found that, not two, but three little mannies are living in the hibiscus shrub behind my pond.

At first I noticed a tussle in the bushes and looked closely to see what was going on, but they got shy and all I saw for sure was a frog retreating under cover.

Soon, though they reappeared one at a time and seemed to be fighting over who was to be on top. It seemed that my boys were becoming tired of the monastic life!

They were both calling wildly, the one on the bottom rather more frantically, so I’m sure they were both boys. But then, lo and behold, another call sounded from nearby.

Standing statue-like with my hose running into the pond, I scanned the area (it was semi dark – just their scene) and located a third male, throat engored, sounding for all the world like a motor bike racing around the sheep paddock.

The loser of the wrestling match got tired of his lot in life and jumped into the pond, swam across and hopped out at my feet, closely followed by his “mate”.

They hopped across to the swimming pool, which for some reason is not in the best of shape at the moment – $150 worth of chemicals later – and one jumped in and swam to a floating pool inflatable island, where he continued his serenade.

Manny number two gave up the chase and returned to the pond, but number three thought he’d join in the fun of a twilight dip and neatly hurdled my toes on the way to the pool.

By this time I was sure I’d be suffering calisi or Ross River Virus by morning if I didn’t get inside so I had to abandon the pose and scuttle inside.
Life is great!

The Painted Fish is registered with the Open Garden Scheme and are having their Open Garden weekend on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of September. Kylie Wheatley from Red Tent Events has rallied the local community and local businesses involved in sustainability and organised a street stall market called The Sustainability Fiesta.

So come along and see The Painted Fish’s wonderful frog ponds and gardens and soak up the atmosphere of an Eco Friendly ergo Frog Friendly Fiesta! Yours truly will be there with my very own stall, you can buy a cute frog heat bag or a frog-in-a-pond jelly for the kids and take home a Perth Zoo Frog Pond sheet to get you started on your own frog pond in your own backyard.

The Painted Fish Open Garden Scheme Sustainability Fiesta is being held in Hulbert Street, South Fremantle on Sat 5 & Sun 6 September and is open 10am til 4pm both days. See you there!