Stalking Treefrogs

Let us celebrate the arrival of fall with the croaking of the Pacific Tree Frogs. Yesterday while I was having lunch with a friend at the Botanical Gardens, she went off to the restroom and I waited by a clump of Sedums. Suddenly I realized there was not one, but two little Pacific Tree Frogs relaxing on the leaves of the Sedum. As she came out of the restroom I waved excitedly to come check out the frogs, and one immediately hopped away, but the other remained. Now, of course, as most photographers know, you should NEVER leave your camera behind if you're going anywhere. I did not have my DSLR, but, I DID have my 8.3mp canon point and shoot, and I proceeded to photograph the little frog until he finally had enough and took off.

Let's just say, I was freaking hooked! I've always had a fondness for these little guys since I used to have them as pets when I was growing up, but I just had to come back. So later on in the day, I returned with my "real" camera, and there he was, sitting in the Sedum. I took a few pictures before he jumped away, and then wandered around the gardens looking for frogs. I found another one near a rose bush, and photographed him, and that was the last I saw for the day before I had to head back.

Treefrog in the Sedum... FROGGY!

Treefrog near the Rose bush

But the obsession doesn't end there, today, I returned again to the gardens, finding only one small one on the Sedum, and one stubborn one who left without a picture into the prickly bushes nearby before I could even catch more than a glimpe of him. But walking through the perennial garden, I came upon the motherlode, no less than 4 tree frogs posed for me, most the bright green but one with a gold tan patch all down his back, and another with the trademark brown "V" on top of his head. So while I have officially paparazzi'd the poor little frogs to death, I am grateful they stayed so patiently while I took their pictures for the year. I even stopped to just watch them occasionally, so freaking cute!!