Very nice Monstera!
Tropical Plants #105
Great natural insect control there, ardesia.
BUT I'd caution you that he may be one of those Marine Toads - Bupho Marinus, I think it was.
They are invasive and dangerous and we are encouraged to 'euthanize' them down here because they eat EVERYTHING, not just insects. Lizards, fish, other frogs, even rodents! They're dangerous to animals and humans because of the poisonous glands on the back of their necks. (you can see them pretty clearly in your picture) Just be careful that none of the grandkids or the dog touch him and if you need to, wear gloves! The toxin can be lethal to dogs and cats, if they pick the toad up in their mouths, and would certainly irritate the skin of a child (or you, for that matter)
This is one of those lessons I had to learn when we moved to this house with the pond . . .
Accckkkkk, I'll have to check that out, thanks for the warning, I will look into it. This guy is so great at bug catching, I will be very upset if I have to go back to chemicals, LOL
Actually, when you live on the marsh like I do, there are lots of unwelcome rodents, maybe this guy is good for more than bugs. Maybe I could even rent him out and make $ to buy more plants. :-)
My favorite orchid. I finally broke down and bought this guy along with two other varieties.
Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos' FCC/AOS
that is one big toad/frog.... I do however like your Musa velutina
So Dyzz those frogs are harmful to dogs... oh my just another thing to worry about with my dogs. I've been finding some small frogs around where I have water buckets for the dogs when they are outside....going to have to read up on them.
Jan
That's one wacky-looking orchid, Franco! I wanted to caution you about the red powderpuff - they get to be huge 12ft. shrubs down here so it might be one you should put on your 'wish list' for when you have a greenhouse or move to Florida . ..
Ardesia, as close as you are to the marsh you will very likely just attract another toad or frog with the light from that window, if you find it necessary to deal with Bufo there. btw, they get a LOT bigger than that, too. You can hope that the next frog that takes up residence might be a native variety that's not toxic. Here's the link to the UF website on them http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw046 Maybe you could make it an excursion with the grandkids to go down to the marsh at dusk, and catch a native Southern Toad or two, to replace that guy?
I've only ever had one Bufo at my pond, but I have an ongoing battle with Cuban Tree Frogs which are smaller and not as noxious, but still will eat my fish and the native frogs that visit. The last two summers I've had beautiful native leopard frogs take up residence in the pond, and it seems they're big enough to drive off most of the others. Haven't seen them yet this year, though. They have pointy noses and a prominent stripe along the jawline. Smooth skin with pretty leopard spots.
This is a baby Cuban. They can really climb with those little suction-cups on their toes!
I have emailed the picture to a naturalist to get a positive ID. So many toads look alike. Years ago we had some large ones around our pond when we lived in Columbia, SC, a zone colder than here, and they looked much like this one. I will let you know when I get some news. It is always possible a Bufo hitch hiked on a plant from FL.
We have many little green tree frogs but the ones we have are a brighter green and they are more slender.
i have one that looks just like him, alice. i think the Bufo gets lots bigger. mine happily co-exists with other toads and anoles and i haven't seen him try to eat anything but bugs...but i will be checking back here to find out what yours turns out to be.
i don't remember if this is the one or not. have to enlarge the pic to tell.
yikes on a google search! LOL http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://static.wix.com/media/d405f26f6d3b343783dd72b11a4817ea.wix_mp&imgrefurl=http://www.wix.com/nagoclan/hfkyfkfj/page-12&usg=__Q6wJE5ocQxrKiM-mmbAsvMVvRQo=&h=600&w=800&sz=84&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=1KsGA3ErO9CZUM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=206&ei=5dEUTvzADcKssQKFmeDUDw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbufo%2Btoads%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1125%26bih%3D592%26site%3Dwebhp%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divns&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=158&vpy=93&dur=92&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=186&ty=104&page=1&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&biw=1125&bih=592
but this isn't my guy or yours i don't think. there is more than one species of Bufo too.
If I saw that guy I would have a for sale sign in front of my house in record time. LOL Yikes is right.
Good grief that thing is HUGE! We have a lot of the little green tree frogs also. They hang out at night and cruise up and down the glass door catching bugs that are attracted to the den light. Its so fun watching them.
Ardesia, if you would like to come help move all my plants, I would be more than happy to give you cuttings of anything. But you also have to move furniture. LOL Spent the day deciding on paint colors, picking out lights, and talking to the tile people! Building a house is a very time-consuming thing!!
that is one big frog, and I think that would have my dogs backing up if they came across it...LOL
Jan
I wanna tree frog! LOL gosh that orchid is awsome and your cheese cake monstera beautiful. I had to cut my lillies because they were burning up befor they could open, 102 again today.. the rain passed us by, too..
here is my little nursery out front..
borneo is waking up..
this black stemmed EE is now a leaf, Joe showed me with the flashlight a bit ago, I must have missed it.. two leaves, dark green, red underneath..black stemmed.
no one answered me bout the banana.. it does have one new leaf showing..
i. plantesis...
I was not on the computer yesterday too much Debra! It looks it could either be a soil compaction problem or lack of water! I would dig it up and buy a bag of worm poo mix in with the native soil about a foot deep and three feet wide in dia. that should do the trick! If any bad roots cut them off and dust the good roots with cinnamon powder! I have to go to Birmingham today as my brother had an aortic aneurysm repaired at U. A. B. See y'all in a couple of days !
Debra, your garden is looking great! Both my brugs from you have buds now, so I'm really excited to see and smell them!
Drew, hope your bro's surgery goes well.
Paula, here's a better shot of my 'Easy Does it" rose with the pink blush going on. Some of the flowers do this and some don't.
And a bud. A rose that does well in this climate is truly a treasure, isn't it!
Lovely photo's everyone!
ardesia: I hope your buddy is the Southern Toad and not the Marine Toad.
Southern Toad:
http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/anurans/bufter.htm
http://wwknapp.home.mindspring.com/docs/southern.toad.html
Debra: Your Banana looks like one I have that I thought was killed from our past two freezing winters, but it's surprised me when I saw new sprouts this past spring! Musa acuminata:
I am happy to report that the naturalist has identifed the toad in question as indeed a southern toad, Bufo terrestris. Whew,,,,,,
yay! same as mine! whew is right.
Oh, I'm glad to hear that, ardesia! Wow, didn't think they got that big.
My southern toads 'sing' when it rains - hope you get to hear its high whistling trill soon! Both for the song and the rain.
We've had two cloudy days, but hardly a drop of rain. It's keeping my little lotus from opening - maybe tomorrow.
dyzz
I can't wait to see the picture of your lotus when it opens..... come on rain for sarasota.... you didn't get any this afternoon. When I left work and south east of me it was coming down...... Are you sure you don't have that umbrella (the commerical that show it following people around to protect them??????) over head......
Jan
Today's lotus, I think this is Emerald Daybreak.
The leaves on the Hibiscus mahoe are starting to color up. Sure is slow this year, normally they would be red, white and pink everywhere.
that is a beautiful lotus, and I love it. Homer , prayers for you and your brother.
Anyone heard from Rita> ?
this tree to the left comes down this weekend, it over hangs it's largest branch over my corner garden.. goodbye squirrell nest tree..
mjs, thanks for the new thread and that is one cute Dischidia you placed in a bird feeder. Great idea!
Debra, I think the blooms on your Hymenocallis is real pretty and your X. sagittifolium is looking good.
Dyzzy and Lin, pretty roses you both showed.
track, it is good to see you here and ardesia, nice looking var. Monstera.
Cissus amazonica.
Rachel,
Very nice anthurium, is it hard to care for?
Ardesia, Love the lotus and hibiscus...mine hasn't done much either, but I have neglected my plants so much this summer. Most are just hanging on. Came home yesterday and one of my favorite had gotten so dried out it was brown. I think I can save it, but I just wanted to cry. If I don't have some time to slow down and water my things, I am going to lose a lot.
So sorry Paula, it is hard to build a house, like you said, so many decisions to make and they all seem to depend on each other so it is non stop. It is going to be such a beautiful home though and there will be plenty of places for all those plants you have been worrying over. Hopefully we will both get some rain to help with the watering.
Do you have any SuperThrive? I have found one of the best uses for it is for soaking stressed plants. Mix up a bucket and drop the dried up plant in for a couple of hours. It is amazing what I have brought back to life that way.
Hang in there. :-)
Wow we are getting some great rain.
Rachel, "Baby" amazonica is a happy camper and taking off !
Gagirl - Have a White Sky all ready for you, d-mail me.
New Plant - Leea Amabilis
I found a little info on it but not much.
Another no id..
I'm sure someone here will know what it is.
What cool plants!
Looks like the rain will be coming this way too, Woo Hoo. The weather liars say it will be a "small" tropical storm", I hope they are not lying this time, a "small" storm is exactly what we need.
We got two good rain showers last night, and topped up all the rain barrels finally. We're in a bit of a gap in the clouds now. More's headin' your way, mj! They're still calling this a 'tropical low' but it's got potential to roll right up across Alice, Paula and Drew, too. It's getting windy here - good sign!
That's a really cool plant, mj - do I see a big thick stem in there from last year? So it was probably fairly large? Something like that would make a fabulous feature in my shady border. I'll be looking for the ID on that one!
'Baby Doll' finally opened - looks like a little tulip! But smells like fresh fruit.
ardesia love the emeral daybreak lotus
MJ your leea ambilis has the best paint job of all...LOL
Dyzz love the baby doll lotus
jeep the pics coming everyone.
Rained so hard last night and 5 minutes before leaving for work it poured, so of course I had to wait it out, as there was no sense getting soaked and sitting here doing nothing at work soaking wet.....LOL
I don't know what is worse, having too much work or nothing to do????
Jan
Hello Everyone!!
Great news, that everyone will be getting some rain. Those are some fantastic pictures!!!
homer1958, I hope that all goes well with your brother's surgery.
mj's plant is a Alocasia lauterbachiana
Joeswife, I am laying low and singing the no rain blues. I will be back later if I find something to show off.
Rita, I hope you get some more rain soon. We have had our share for the past few days.
Paula, that Anthurium has been easy to grow and I hope you do not lose any of your plants. You have a beautiful collection.
mjs, nice new plants and I'm glad your amazonica is happily growing. The Cissus you sent me is looking happy and growing well.
