The toad has indeed no superior as a destroyer of noxious insects, and he possesses no bad habits and is entirely inoffensive himself, every owner of a garden should treat him with utmost hospitality.
– Celia Thaxter, An Island Garden, 1894
June 17, 2010
Morning Bray Farm 
June 17, 2010 at 4:43 am
What a gorgeous fella! Most animals are innocuous and innocent but some still do everything to get rid of them… so sad.
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June 17, 2010 at 6:05 am
I hope you’ve read that quote to Bernard.
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June 17, 2010 at 6:52 am
Ok – I know I have issues with reptilian looking things…. iguanas, toads, etc. I’ve finally gotten to where I can co-exist peacefully with the many lizards we have running around and I’ve even begun to think they’re cute but this is one ugly frog! I wouldn’t hurt him but I can gau-ran-damn-tee I wouldn’t embrace him either!
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June 17, 2010 at 8:32 am
I love the close-up detail you’ve captured. He is quite an adorable looking fella. There has to be a princess out there for him 🙂
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June 17, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Colleen,
Thanks! I finally decided that it was time to start playing with the macro feature on our point and shoot camera. 🙂
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June 17, 2010 at 8:39 am
Where does he live? I’ve thought about getting a toad house for my garden, but our climate is too dry.
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June 17, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Cathy,
He lives along with a couple of other toads in our backyard. I usually find them in the flower bed right next to our patio. This guy (along with one other) popped out onto the patio the other night while I was watering the flower bed.
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June 17, 2010 at 9:23 am
Oh my. He’s quite handsome in a warped kinda way. He seems old and wise. Great quote.
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June 17, 2010 at 11:56 am
I could co-exist with him quite happily but I’m afraid my dogs might not. I’ve already got one who chases ducks who have the temerity to land in our yard.
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June 17, 2010 at 5:48 pm
ms martyr,
Funny you should mention dogs and toads. Thankfully, our dogs have learned their lesson… Kassie especially. She bit into a toad a few years ago (we were still living in Maryland at the time), which made her seriously ill. She must have vomited for an hour straight afterwards. I’m so thankful that she hasn’t bothered a toad since. Now if she’d only learn that skunks are not cats! 😉
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June 17, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Hello Mr. Toad. Very nice to meet you. What lovely eyes you have.
Loved the quote.
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June 17, 2010 at 1:30 pm
How wonderful! I love toads – not to cuddle with – but to appreciate their insect appetites! When we lived in SC they used to hang out outside our sliding glass door at night. The light from inside would attract their dinner. Occasionally they’d hop into our house when we opened the sliding door!
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June 17, 2010 at 1:51 pm
How fun. I’ve been surprised a few times by a toad in places I didn’t expect. I was completely SHOCKED one evening when I saw one out the corner of my eye in my BEDROOM! I still have absolutely no idea how it got into the house and found its way down the hallway to my bedroom. Much better to find them outside somewhere. Love your picture of handsome Mr. Toad.
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June 17, 2010 at 2:19 pm
with those eyes, I’d stare at ’em for hours Great photo!
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June 17, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Ooooh, isn’t he the coolest? Where’d you find him? Love his eyes.
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June 17, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Farmgirl,
He is the coolest… cool as a cucumber. 🙂 He (along with a couple other toads) hangs out in the flower beds in our backyard. I agree, his eyes are gorgeous.
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June 17, 2010 at 3:14 pm
His (or her) eyes look like intricate jewelry or enamelwork. I didn’t know they were so beautiful. And what a beneficial little sweetie! Loved the quote.
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June 17, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Crusty li’l fella isn’t he? Great eyes though. Haven’t seen toads here yet, just small frogs.
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June 17, 2010 at 4:00 pm
I know it might be odd to say, but what a beautiful and regal looking creature. We could use a few toads around our place. I’ve rescued several turtles, one rather large dinner plate sized fellow, and turned them loose in our pond, where they may or may not coexist with the many frogs I hear out there at night. We even have the occasional snake sighting, as far as I can tell they are innocuous non-venomous types, but no toads. Send him over to us in Texas when your through with him.
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June 17, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Ken and Mary,
Not an odd thing at all to say, if I do say so myself. 🙂 We’ll put Mr. Toad on a train to Texas at the end of the summer, how’s that? 😉
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June 17, 2010 at 4:13 pm
I am in love with toads and frogs. We had a large (body as big as my palm) female that lived in our garden for several years.
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June 17, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Amazing pictures!
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