The first toad of the season signals spring

It’s great to stumble on to the first toad of the year. Photos by Doug Oster Tribune Review

Gardeners see the world a little differently than “normal” people. We’re watching the signs that nature provides to see when we should plant. “If you hear the spring peepers three times, it’s time to plant early crops,” the saying goes. “When an oak leaf is the size of a mouse’s ear, it’s time to plant tender crops,” is another.

While planting some ‘Simpson Elite’ lettuce plants I stumbled on to such a welcome sight, the first big fat toad of the season. Even though it’s great to see the little guy hopping around, I know it’s too early to plant those tender crops. There’s always the possibility of a late frost through May.

Toads are great for the garden, they eat lots of slugs, other pests and it’s always great to have a companion in the garden. Don’t worry, they won’t give you warts either.

A garden in balance will take care of itself for the most part. I would never want my friend the toad to crawl through a chemical that could harm it. I’ve got a red bellied woodpecker that follows me around in the spring too. I hear the shrill call from the trees and I wouldn’t want that bird to eat anything bad either. That’s just one of the reasons I’m an organic gardener.

As the days get longer and warmer, I’m looking forward to seeing all my other friends in the garden appear. They give me a good idea about how the garden is doing.

Maybe the toad will find this slug hiding in a fading tulip.

Maybe the toad will find this slug hiding in a fading tulip.