Ratfood:
Looks like a regular toad, no probs in your garden though, He's just there for the bugs. I've a few round my veggies (also in SAtown). And if you have a compost heap, that could be a better source for your earthworm needs. I tend to find them in my primary bin as well as in my finished product bin.
Hey Sym, I only started a compost bin last month and it's just one of those black plastic ones. The old lady won't let me do a 3-way compost bin. She says its too big. Anyways, let me know what you are growing on your trellises ok. I'm trying to get a chart put together of what I can plant and when I can plant it out here in SA (found something at agri-extention web page).
I went and got a few things to make the toad feel more at home, if I get them up i'll take some pics later!
Ratfood! LET ME GUESS, you bought the toad a set of stools. Sorry I just could not help myself on that one.
TOADSTOOLS!! Ha ha ha - good one crazyfish!
The peacock is beautiful Rat.
Jeanette
Hey Ratfood,
I wonder if you could make your 3-way compost bin with the back facing into the yard, cover it with trellis and grow a pretty vine on it to disguise it? Maybe DH wouldn't mind it so much then.
Bet crazyfish not only has stools for his toads but a bar as well, LOL! On second thought, that might not be such a good idea--they might not be sober enough for bug duty!
Ratfood, Usually I have cucumbers growing on my trellis.
As for what you can grow here in SA; well for my Spring/Summer garden I try to throw in as much as I can. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, herbs, corn, okra, lettuce, Bok Choi, squash, and even melons you name it.
For my winter garden I’ve had turnips, chard, spinach, cabbage, onions, and collards.
Too bad you can’t have two or three bins. I currently only have two. One that has my starting product in it that I turn about twice a week during the summer; and the other has my finished product where I sift and let set until I need to use it in the yard or one of my gardens.
Naturelover, how did you find out about my set up for the toads. Happy hour consist of beer and roasted worms. Music by Mel Tourmay (the velvet frog ), nobody was suposte to tell. Enjoyed the fun! Thanks. P.S. got to go and change the 8 Track.
ROFL crazyfish! Bet you bring in all the toads from the entire neighborhood :-} Hope none of your neighbors are trying to have a garden! Let's see, I believe it's Texas that has a town named Toad Suck--are you vying for second place with that name?
OK you all calm down, once you start talking about 8-tracks you went too far. On another note, Walmart was fresh outta toadstools so I couldn't get any. I am sorry about that Crazyfish. We have, however named the toad "Sam the Horney Toad" and that will have to do as wifey put her foot down about it. Anyhow , here are the presents I bought him:
here is Sam toy #2
Heres the setup where he can see both his friends from his perch. Sam has been in the same spot for almost 2 months now so this is probably the most exciting thing that has ever happened to him (besides the bugs he eats). If anyone has any other ideas I am open to them (besides the 8-track in the compost pile idea..... )
Ratfood,thanks for sharing the pics. I'm impressed with your woodwork,simple design, fuctional, and very eye apealing with the plants. I staked boards around my plot and tied a small rope up higher to keep the dog out. This fall, pull it up, till it and restake the boards. I have a raised tatter bed and can just shift it to the other end next fall. The neighbors think the wood work adds to the garden, hey it does give it good definetion. Man your's is the bomb! Looks like your's reassembles for the seasons too. I will plant some climing peas this fall and like your X frame down one row. Ya gave me some ideas. Good job and thanks for the humor. P.S. Yea guess i'll have to up grade the sterio.
I never liked any tomato cages but I really like that x frame. I'm going to move it next year to the other garden to keep the tomatos moving around. Because of our sun here I will leave the shade on year round. I really don't think I have to remove it as I built it in the winter and it was still giving (more than) plenty of sun. I'm still working on the peas though (THEY ARE YELLOW, and don't look too hot). I have several pods but they look very weak....
If you'r in San Antonio, Theres a place on San Pedro blvd that will give you a $50 credit on any 8-track player so you can get in the new generation and get a casette player. Let me know if you need the address..
"will give you a $50 credit on any 8-track player so you can get in the new generation and get a casette player."
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8-track? Cassette player? Is this a message from 30 years ago that bounced off something in outer space and came back? I actually had an 8-track, about 1968.
btw, my name is Sam and I'm used to people naming dogs that. Now it's toads. LOL
OK~ I have some bad news my friends...
Sam the Toad had a bad week. He was quietly sitting in the garden, guarding the cukes, listening to his 8-track, and watching his hanging frog spinners, then a snake ate him....
Here's another picture.. Man, I don't know what I am going to do. I am scared of snakes.
RATFOOD I'm CRUSHED. Tomarrow at happlyhour we will all raise A glass in SAM'S name. I realy enjoyed the humier about Sam . Hey A stud like him has to have some little toaders around! Keep the green side up. Ate my first tomatto while watering the garden today.
I don't like snakes either, and I wouldn't assume it's not dangerous but that might be a checkered garter snake, not unlikely in south texas.
http://www.kingsnake.com/stha/checkered-garter.jpeg
The good news is (if it is a garter snake) that they aren't really a threat to you, the bad news is they primarily eat amphibians (froggies) and earthworms. Not exactly beneficial to a garden.
NOOOOOooooooo!!
How did this happy story go so terribly wrong?
R.I.P. Sam.
I'd have to see more of it to be sure it's not a rattlesnake, which are real common around San Antonio. If it is, that's something you sure can't put up with in a garden.
No rattlesnake has ever met me and survived the encounter, and to heck with those who think they need conserving.
My sympathies on the loss of Sam. :-(
Wifey is not scared of snakes so she coaxed it out a bit. Lucky for us it is a garder snake! If it was a rattler I would have shot it. I'll check back in a while after I see if Garvin the Garder snake is still there~
Bet you didn't know you were growing a toad so you could feed the unknown snake this year!
OK well heres the latest: Snake is gone, he got his dinner then left. I filled up the hole with dirt that Sam lived in for so long. Now no toads can live there anymore, but more importantly no snakes can live there. I really didn't want to have to worry about my kids when they were playing in the garden. I hope we get another toad but in the meantime I got some ladybugs for pest control.
YOUR MY BOY SAM! YOUR MY BOY!
