Tree frogs

photos © Mark M. Hancock / DFWmark.com

A tree frog hangs out in Beaumont, Texas on Friday, May 9, 2008.


A tree frog considers a leap in Beaumont, Texas on Friday, May 9, 2008.


A tree frog waits for insects on a hummingbird feeder in Beaumont, Texas on Friday, May 9, 2008.

As with all live animals I encounter, I referred to the Medicine Cards book (page 189). Frog symbolizes cleansing. It tells us to stop, relax and refresh.

Frog medicine is strong in Beaumont. It was a nice break from the big-city chaos. I learned much about myself and my work while I lived here. I'm ready to return to Big D.

I'm going to miss these little critters. Although they're not too smart (they often leap off the 2nd-story window), they're very entertaining. They crawl around the windows all night and eliminate bugs. I call them "Frog TV."

In the morning, they hop back into the plants on the balcony or sneak between the patio chairs to avoid the sun. Since Beaumont is so humid, they don't need a pond to survive.

We had nine "regulars" on our window before Hurricane Humberto. The hurricane only took two. By comparison, Rita eliminated almost all living animals - except mosquitoes and well-protected gators.

Fayrouz doesn't find the window frogs even slightly cute. I had one follow me inside this spring while Fay was asleep. They're fast, tiny and can stick to anything. So, I needed to corral it quickly before it got into the bedroom.

It's somewhat difficult to chase a tiny, slick, terrified frog "quietly" around a dark apartment without waking up a princess. However, I finally cornered it the bathtub and took it back outside. :-)