Surprise! A frog in the watering can

March 31, 2015


While watering a seedling moonflower vine yesterday, I looked down and was surprised to see, perched on the edge of the watering can, a green tree frog.


I guess he was hanging out in the can when I surprised him by filling it up. He didn’t seem alarmed, however, and just sat there after I put the can down, and even while I leaned in close for pictures.


Eventually I needed to get my watering done, so I nudged him with my finger, and he leaped into an abutilon. I hope we meet again, Kermit.

Update: I’m linking with Tina’s Wildlife Wednesday meme at My Gardener Says… Visit her blog for links to more wildlife-in-the-garden posts.

All material © 2006-2015 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

48 responses to “Surprise! A frog in the watering can”

  1. Soooo cool! But did you emit a little squeak when you first saw him?

  2. Lisa at Greenbow says:

    What a nice surprise! Spring peepers are the only frogs I have heard yet this season.

  3. Mark and Gaz says:

    He looks good against the colour of the watering can too 🙂

  4. Alison says:

    Aw, he’s so cute, with those little suckers on his toes.

  5. Dozens of them hang out in the space between my cache pots and the plastic liners that hold the plants. I appreciate the help in keeping out bugs.

    I’ve had watering cans that held not only frogs but little snakes and once, I kept pulling spider web out of my watering can daily until I added a some fertilizer granules to the water and out came bounding a Black Widow! Be careful.

  6. Peter/Outlaw says:

    What a handsome fellow! I’m hoping that my little tree frogs brought to town last fall will stay in my garden and make more. I heard them singing all winter but recently haven’t heard anything. They breed in February so maybe the love songs aren’t necessary anymore.

  7. rickii says:

    When froggy goes a-courtin’, we get to be serenaded too. Actual sightings are rare, but ever so special.

  8. What a cute little frogie coming to pay you a visit Great photos Pam!

  9. Jane / MulchMaid says:

    Would love to find this little prince in my watering can! My garden needs some frogs.

  10. Layanee says:

    Oh, he is very handsome.

  11. Lucy says:

    What a handsome frog, beautiful color!

  12. TexasDeb says:

    What a sweet face on that little frog. Interesting how unperturbed he was but a great break for the rest of us to get to share the surprise with you. I finally saw a rock lizard here – knew they were around but hadn’t spotted one and then I saw a skink yesterday for the first time in years. And now, NOW I want to see me some frog!

  13. Jane scorer says:

    He is prettier than our frogs here in the uk – wonder what he was doing in your watering can ? Ours are all in the ponds over here, busy making frog spawn. They all croak together in a crazy frog chorus !

    • Pam/Digging says:

      I expect he was after the moisture at the bottom of the can. I do have a pond, but it’s a container pond. I wonder how high he can jump? —Pam

  14. Kris P says:

    Cute! I haven’t seen frogs here in ages, which is not at all a good sign of our overall environmental health but, perhaps once again, the drought is to blame.

  15. So cute!

    We have a lot of frogs. But, I’ve never seen one of these.

  16. Heidi says:

    What a friendly looking guy, maybe he was looking for a mate, or is able to venture out from his usual habitat because of our drought relief! This is one of the prettiest springs we’ve had in awhile here in South Texas, life is good! Thanks for the great pics and congrats on being the best garden blogger!!

    • Pam/Digging says:

      Yes, this is one of the best springs — maybe the best — that I can remember in my 20 years here. And thank YOU for reading, Heidi! —Pam

  17. Tina says:

    Fabulous photos! I love the look on his/her face. Nice little visitor in your watering can, I love tree frogs, it’s been a while since I’ve seen one. Thanks for joining in with Wildlife Wednesday!

  18. He is totes adorbs! But id have squealed!

  19. Rebecca says:

    Such a cute garden visitor! I’ve had my fair share of toads, but have not spotted any frogs, or green tree frogs for that matter. What a fun surprise! My green friend this month is a much more frequent Texas garden visitor – the Carolina anole, a bit less exciting than a green tree frog, but still a welcomed garden guest.

    • Pam/Digging says:

      I love anoles! I saw one recently in my garden too — a first for my current NW Austin garden, although my former garden in central Austin had oodles of them. They are so fun to watch. —Pam

  20. Nancy says:

    What a treat! I want one to visit my garden! The closest I get is the pretty green anole and I enjoy watching them too.

  21. Debra says:

    We used to have little tree frogs all over the place when I first movwed to Austin. So many I was always worried about stepping on them. They became rare after the very-bad-no-good drought year. I hope this means they are coming back. Great photos.

  22. I love surprises like this Pam. I have found frogs in my watering cans and buckets….they are so funny and hate to be moved. These are great shots of such a cute green frog.

  23. Ruthie Burrus says:

    You are on a roll! Congrats, Pam!!

  24. So cute! I can’t wait to see frogs and toads this year. Wish we had green tree frogs in Canada, at least I don’t think we do!