This frog is getting brave.....I can get close to him and it doesn't seem to matter.  That is if I talk before I get to him so it doesn't frighten him.  He likes to hid behind my Rain Lily.  Maybe he just likes his picture taken hehe. I sure do alot of that.  Now there are other frogs camping out in my pond also, but mostly small ones...the tadpoles from early spring.  They aren't as friendly as MR. BIG FROG.  Whenever I try and get close to snap a picture they jump right into the pond.  This is the closest shot I could get....took one more step and he was gone.

PLOP right into the pond.  I think I saw Mr. Big Frog just shake his head....

Since we're starting to get our ponds ready for the winter now is also a good time to create a place for those frogs we've watch grow from tadpoles this summer.  You may want to put a tray, such as a kitty litter tray in the bottom of your pond with sand in it.  This will give the frogs a place to bury themselves over the winter.  Sometimes if you have a filter box or skimmer they may camp out there so be sure that your pump intake is protected so they don't get stuck in it.  I've opened my skimmer early spring and had them jump out.  If you have muck in the bottom of your pond they will also bury themselves in there.  Its nature so frogs will find a way to survive over the winter.

There are iris of almost any color one would want.....of course I want to plant them all around the pond.  Although they only bloom once during the season I anxiously await their blooms.  The Colorific is exactly like its name...blending of colors and quite unique.  This plant only had about three flowers on it this year since it was just planted but next year will have more. 

Then there is the Clyde Redmond which blooms a little later in the season. Its nice to have different iris blooming at different times of the season. The Wedgwood blue color of this iris adds alot to the pond.

Other than dividing the iris in the early spring they require little care and the rewards of color in your pond are worth it.

Those annoying predators.....the one we dislike the most when we have fish swimming about.  Some of our customers have had their ponds depleted of fish because of the blue heron!  They are beautiful birds but please stay away from our ponds.  You'd think they'd go for the larger ponds with more fish.

Blue Herons are territorial. If they see another bird at your pond, they will simply move on to another pond for their next meal. Our life-like statue is decorative and will help keep other herons away. Just make sure you move it periodically, or the real birds get wise to the fact that it is fake!