The Amazing Orange Frog

 On the Sunday after an April snow, our neighborhood filled with the thick white smoke of burning wet leaves and brush. I've often wondered what would happen if everyone in the area agreed on one particular day to burn thus leaving the rest of our spring weekends smoke free to enjoy. It seemed that by pure serendipity, April 18th was the day to test it out and so Wayne and I joined in burning twigs in our fire pit. For the record, it's for the best that the neighborhood spreads out our burning chores as our house still smells of camp the next morning. 

And so it was, that while I was supervising Wayne's progress from our glider, that Wayne announced that he spotted an orange treefrog. Typically I would have leapt into action to investigate, but knowing that frogs are quite fast and I was quite comfortable, I decided to leave well enough alone.  After some time, Wayne let me know that the frog was still hanging around and so he retrieved the phone so that I could take a picture. I give credit where credit is due and so alert my readers to the fact that had Wayne not insisted, this blog wouldn't have been. Frogs after all seem to be quite common in these parts and I had thought until just now, held very little mystery to unfold.

Now for those of you who at once recognized this charming amphibian, I implore you to keep reading as I honestly believe that I have something of interest to share here. As I began poking around the internet in hopes of identifying this frog, I discovered numerous sites dedicated to the subject and not all of them agreeing on the number of frog species that call VT home. In the end, I chose The Frog Lady who discuses ten frogs and two toads here in Vermont. Truth be told, how could we not trust someone who self identifies as The Frog Lady?

I find writeups that include range maps particularly helpful in eliminating or including potential candidates. In this case however, there were only two frogs that were similar to Wayne's orange frog and those are the spring peeper and the wood frog. Vermont's tree frog is the grey treefrog and so that assuredly was not it. Being much to large to be a peeper and by the fact that our frog was clearly on dry land in the spring, I surmised that what we had here was the ordinary wood frog. Described to be a, "tan, brown or rust colored frog."* I began to pay attention to that nagging feeling that there was more to know here. "The grey treefrog may range in color from green to brown to grey."*

This frog that I photographed in the Roaring Brook Wildlife Management area if a green frog is said to be "typically greenish - brown." If it's an American bullfrog its "green or gray-brown".*  What's going on here? Why can't anybody nail down an exact color for any particular species of frog?

As it turns out, there may be a good reason. We have all grown up learning that birds have breeding plumage, Snowshoe hares turn white in the winter, fawns are speckled for their first few months, and chameleons and cuttlefish? Well chameleons and cuttlefish are just plain amazing! The more we think about it, the more creatures we know of that in one way or another alter their colors. Furbearing animals shed old and grow new coats, Birds completely molt or partially molt and display alternate plumage.**

 But did you know that frogs can also change color? Frogs alter their color using three layers of specialized skin cells that include, melanin / pigments (which also tints human skin), light reflectors and light filters. "Hormones in the frog can change the cells shape, move around the pigment inside the cells and alter the intensity of light coming form them"*** What this means, is that frogs adjust their color depending on where they are hanging out. So while our orange wood frog looks out of place in green grass, remember that he was ever so rudely awaken by Wayne when he found himself shaken from a pile of rusty colored leaves. Comparatively speaking, I think that you must agree that we humans are rather boring creatures when it comes to these sorts of things.

 On another note, why was that frog snoozing in a pile of leaves on what should have been a fine day in terms of amphibians for mating? Why did he hang out long enough for a photoshoot? All of the frogs that I know, quickly slip under the water or leap away before I can get my hands on them. Arguably, I was much better at catching frogs as a youth; but still, I could have grabbed my orange friend with one hand tied behind my back. Come to think of it, that green frog on the sun warmed moss, required several taps with a stick before he gave up his spot.

Would you believe me if I told you that our wood frog may have been still thawing out from the winter? Most I think, are aware that reptiles and amphibians are cold blooded. This means that they rely on external sources to regulate their body temperature. After taking a dip in the cool Roaring Brook, the green frog was most likely warming up in the sun much like a snake does on a rock or a turtle on a log. Our orange friend however had been covered by a pile of overwintered leaves that we had purposefully left in place during the fall for wildlife. 

The cool thing about a wood frog is that unlike other frogs, they partially freeze during the winter months. They produce a sort of antifreeze using glucose produced by their livers, This syrup keeps the inside of their cells from freezing and also prevents dehydration by combining with water molecules within their cells. Everything on the outside of their glucose filled cells freezes. This enables them to overwinter not in the mud bottoms of ponds like other frogs do; but rather up above on the ground in leaves.****

"There is no muscle movement, no heartbeat, no breathing...But it is alive in a state of suspended animation."**** Then somehow when the days warm up, the frog miraculously thaws out, it's organs resume their function and the wood frog goes on its way in search of a body of water in which to mate. There is a paragraph in Biological Miracle , Wood Frogs and Humans that explains why medical researchers are so interested in uncovering exactly how this process takes place without damaging the frog. 

So yes it is true that this frog looked woefully out of place in my lawn and for good reason. He needed more time to perform what is an impossible feat for other species. In retrospect, I should have waited a few more weeks before disturbing his winter home. -Norma Manning

Resources:

*The Frog Lady, Frogs Found in Vermont 

**All About Birds, The Basics: Feather Molt

***Live Science, Why Frogs are Green

****Gates of the Arctic, Biological Miracle

We Should Build Condos in Vernon

 I understand that it may sound strange for people who live in the country to worry themselves about attracting insects to their property, but that's exactly what I have been working on since yesterday afternoon. I suppose these sorts of things happen to people like me who have extra stuff lying around and a laundry list of must do projects that we aren't particularly interested in doing.

The trouble with putting out the welcome mat for insects is that insects are bound to accept that invitation!  Another problem of course is that once you stop pumping out the insecticides, the unsavory types that you have no intention of embracing are bound to come knocking- like spiders for instance. I know what you are thinking, spiders are beneficial insects with their eight eyes, hairy legs and chelicerae. Yes, I know that they are beneficial on one level; but that doesn't mean I'm going to name them and give them a key to my house! Some of them do jump you know. 

As Kermit the frog was known for saying, "It's not easy being green." Let's say that we forget about all of that spider stuff and instead focus on butterflies. Who doesn't have room for more butterflies in their gardens?  Many of my readers have assuredly heard about the importance of pollinators. The USDA states, "...three-fourths of the world's flowering plants and about 35% of the worlds food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce."* The United Nations reports, "Without pollinators, many of us would no longer be able to enjoy coffee, chocolate..." Furthermore, "Between US$235 billion and US$577 billion worth of annual global food production relies on direct contributions by pollinators."** Honestly, they had me at coffee; but I do recommend that you read this short UN report. 

Pollinator Partnership is my favorite site when it comes to learning about pollinators, their benefits, their needs and the issues surrounding them. This group of scientists and research partners, explain that pollinators are; birds, bats, bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps and other small mammals of which many of their populations are in decline due to, "loss in feeding and nesting habitats, pollution, misuse of chemicals, disease, and changes in climatic patterns...*** That certainly seems to be a rather long list for someone who is committed to avoiding work.

My sister Claire gave to me a butterfly play station of sorts last winter and that seemed to be about the correct level of investment for someone on a spring break complete with snow flurries. The card included claims like: butterflies play in the mud, adding a pinch of salt and some sand provides them with minerals and salt. The last step is to pour water "all over" it. Okay, I did that part wrong, but since it's freezing outside I can fix that later. 

The card also instructs me to "place it in a sunny location among your flowers where butterflies can sunbathe." I installed my bug spa next to our currently dormant native flower garden. Seeing that we had food and fun available, I began to consider building my pollinator friends a condominium that was carefully designed for a particular clientele. So I did what any motivated person would, I waited for social media to deliver to me the plans while I sat in my jammies sipping organic coffee. 

I'm not an artist (not even close), but I figure that bugs aren't going to be awfully concerned over the decor. I chose my wood pieces from Wayne's scrap lumber collection and my roof is actually the heat shield that fell off of my Jeep (sacrifices must be made), I discovered that I don't exactly know how to build a perfect square after I had the nails pounded in. The hardest part of this job was finding enough material to fill the box, so eight inch sides were probably excessive. I filled the box with blackberry canes, elderberry stalks, forsythia branches, wildflower stems of which goldenrod worked best, bamboo garden stakes, a maple limb, chair rail and some corner molding. 

It was after I mounted it that I realized that I maybe shouldn't have located it on the same wall as a bird house that is typically occupied by wrens. Happy Earth Day Vernon, and remember, if you aren't ready to take on the big challenges just yet, there are still plenty of smaller ones to tackle. Every small committed action moves us closer to restoring our pollinator populations. - Norma Manning

*USDA, Insects and Pollinators

**United Nations, Pollinators Vital to Our Food Supply Under Threat

***Pollinator Partnership

****Gardener's Supply Company

Bug Hotel, How to Make a Home for Beneficial Insects

From Miller Farm to Maynard J Miller Town Forest in Seven Hours

 We began our day by dropping off a car at the Basin Road trail head parking and then made our way to the Vernon Town Hall where we left our second car. It was nine in the morning and a beautiful Red Fox was making its way across the Miller Farm pasture having encountered a pair of ruckus Canada Geese. The fox kept looking over its shoulder at their objection and soon disappeared. 

We knew what we were up against, the Vast 1-A Green Tail up to the intersection which I had dubbed the information highway in my blog Rough and Random. On that day we were turned around several times and the trails threw everything they had at us. Our hope was that the trails would be considerably drier as well as more familiar. At the intersection, our plan was to hike south on Vast Trail 1 to where the orange Roaring Brook Falls Extension trail branches off from 1-A. We wanted to go to the left there, missing the falls and crossing Roaring Brook just the one time. From there it's all uphill to the Municipal Town Forest Road. In all, were were on the trail seven hours, we visited three ponds and I face planted twice. Oh, and there was a cow costume.

It's 1.6 miles as the crow flies from Miller Farm to the intersection. If only the trail was a straight line! On this previously hiked section, I noticed a tree warning us that the trail looks very different depending upon the season. Though we had the basics down, I was surprised at the number of forks that had been covered up on the March trail. The truth is, sometimes it's just a lucky guess that gets you going on the right trail, especially if there has been logging going on.

This path meanders through the area crossing back and forth over the much wider logging trails. We noticed deer tracks on our last visit; but this time there were bike and boot tracks.

 Another thing that has changed on the trail is that the rocks are now exposed. This rock in the middle of the trail has been scraped up by passing motorists. The land to either side of the trail is about a foot higher than the ruts.  The trail has been compacted and eroded away over the years. Fair warning, as mentioned previously I love rocks and find it hard to ignore them. There will be pictures of rocks in this blog!

Am I the only person who believes that often times random events really aren't random? Here I am trying to find out why I was meant to find this pamphlet in the woods. I placed it back where I found it just in case it was meant for another. Near the end of our hike I began to wonder if perhaps I should have taken the time to read it in its entirety.

We took the low road

I posted about this beaver pond on the Cold Brook in March. I hope that you won't mind my dropping in again.

We heard the Great Blue Herons and the Canada Geese before we made it to the pond. Once we stilled ourselves we began to notice swallows and Mallards. Trying to photograph  Herons made me wish that Paul and Mary Miller were with us.

This part of the trail is still a bit wet

Wayne wanted to take the right, I wanted to take the left. He let me win. My trail ended in an old woodlot causing us to backtrack. 

On the way back, I was out in front going on about a great rock that I had taken a picture of. It had circles in it that I imagined to be reminiscent of ancient writings (I'm positive that he was hanging on my every word). When we reached the rock again, I was just about to point it out when my foot caught the end side of a long stick. There was no recovering and before I knew it I was demonstrating for Wayne how to perform the perfect face plant! Every hike, Wayne and I have one point that breaks us. It's our partner's responsibility to put aside our own brokenness and remind the other that there are but two ways out. If Wayne had laughed he may very well had taken the other way. I don't know about you; but one of the first things I do after struggling to get up, is to look for what I nearly missed and count myself lucky.

I don't know how he does it, but Wayne usually puts us on the right trail.

Two hours into our hike and we are at the intersection of the 1-A Orange trail and the 1 Green trail. At this point we are at the arrow near the top of the map heading south to the forest where my finger is pointing. We plan on the light green trail the entire way. We are parked to the right of my finger at the gate on Basin rd. The sound of Interstate 91 will be our constant companion until beyond the intersection of south end of the dark green with the light when we begin to hike south-east before we head north-east and finally south again. It seems odd to say it this way; but I can tell you that when hiking I listen for the water and the roads. 

What is that old saying about the kitchen sink?

Woodlot markers are a good sign that trails ahead can be rough and confusing

Yellow Birch

An Eastern Hemlock sapling growing in front of a log left behind.

Clearing woodlots allows light and new growth in areas where the floor had little. Carefully planned clearing is important to creating food sources and open habitat that supports a diversity of wildlife.

Temperatures in the low seventies feels hot on the trail this time of year. Wayne wore a long sleeve shirt with a T underneath. I was grateful that I was in short sleeves and that the Black Flies weren't out.

These newts took advantage of puddles created by trucks in the middle of the trail.

The above newt was brown while the below was more red. Life cycle of a Newt: Aquatic adults lay eggs in the water which hatch into olive colored active larvae. In the late Summer, when the larvae loses their tail fins and absorb their gills they becomes a Red Eft that will live only on the land for the next two to three years  at which time they are a terrestrial adult. The cycle is complete when they once again enter the water as aquatic adults to mate and lay eggs*

We followed a beaver's path to the second pond on our journey. 

Historically known as Great Pond and a former mill site, this pond with the big rocks rising from it is the Beinhauer-Horstman Lot within the Roaring Brook Wildlife Management Area

Great Pond is a forty eight acre pond and so I found it difficult to capture it in its entirety. 

The Pond is described as being important to wildlife** though we only saw a pair of Canada Geese there today.

The trail runs along the pond for a surprising distance making me think that Long Pond would be a more fitting name for it. The hill on the other side of the trail has mixed woods and ledge.

Near the southern end of the pond is more evidence of truck activity

Wayne spotted this curious tree with burls and a ring of rocks at its base. The opposite side revealed that it used to have a double trunk.

It seems early in the season to find algae even if the water is shallow

Trying to decide if we should take the old (light green) trail or the new Alt Vast 142 (dark green) trail. We decided on the old trail.

Wayne didn't steer me wrong as we found the most beautiful moss covered white stone with a nearby Vernal pool full of eggs! I was beyond thrilled as our last attempt to locate eggs came up empty as I wrote about in Vernon's Vernal Pools.

I'm not really clear if and when we left state lands; but this sign and gate post let us know that we were continuing our hike on state land. We also spied a green diamond and a large yellow sign with an arrow.

Some trees find the most difficult places to grow.

We're not exactly sure what went on here and we may never know; but one thing is certain, this abandoned cow costume seemed out of place on the trail.

There was what looked like an old well or small cellar made from rocks along with a rock wall that ranged in height from several rocks tall to this section.

At the bottom of this hill was a muddy trail and as we progressed it became rockier with a stream running directly down the trail.

I've decided that Wayne and I love winter hiking over traversing rocks, branches and mud.

As our rests became longer I had time to refocus 

before heading up again.

When we got through this section of trail, I noticed that there was a white sign on the backside of a tree. It would seem that traveling north on the trail is prohibited. It's a good thing we were headed south!

Awesome rock!

Who keeps locating lakes in the middle of the trail?

It looks like some form of mining has been taking place and of course I couldn't resist checking out the view from the top.

Now at this point, Wayne and I were both pretty tired and unsure if we had made the right choice to take the light green trail. That closed trail sign added to my anxiety but was nothing compared to discovering a house where I had thought was the middle of the wilderness! Exactly how lost were we? A check of Google Maps did nothing to alleviate our concerns.

We walked around trying to decide where to go from here and discovered a gate that resembled those on state lands. Later Wayne and I agreed that it was a good thing that we decided to hike the trail south instead of north because we probably would have otherwise become terribly lost at this juncture.

 Four and a half hours on the trail

Fifteen minutes later and we were on familiar ground. We headed away from the orange Extension trail and continued on the green trail.

We found our third pond on the hike. This pond was frozen over in my blog Rough and Random Spring Trails in March. As we rested we were kept company by a pair of Black Capped Chickadees who were nesting in a cavity in a pondside tree.

This is what Wayne looks like checking to see if I survived my second faceplant of the hike. This one truly hurt and was caused by the same type of  butt end stick kick that had caused my first. Though Wayne encouraged me to get up quickly, I laid there for some time waiting for the pain in my wrists and knees to subside. We have a picture of me crumpled on the forest floor; but Wayne thought it better not to publish it. Suffice to say, I hurt for several days after this hike.

Finally the Roaring Brook! Is seemed to flow right out of the ground forming this pool before continuing on as a brook.

It was time to cross the brook but a frog had claimed the crossing as its own. Being incredibly exhausted and empathizing with his needing to rest in on the moss in the sun, I stood here for an extended amount of time waiting for my turn. Finally Wayne said it was time to cross.

From here the uphill trail was all too familiar. We started the final length to the Town Forest

One last look back from where we had come, we exited the trail and began walking on the Town Forest Road / White trail. We reached the parking lot at 4:15. Seven hours on the trail from beginning to end, our goal of hiking from Miller Farm to the Town Forest was completed. 

- Norma Manning