Cactus Kate

Moonflowers & Toads

25th June 2008

Moonflowers & Toads

posted in Blogroll, Outdoors, Plants |

This week, the only things happening in the greenhouse are non-succulent. I have taken almost all my plants out of the greenhouse, because I have not yet figured out how to attach the shade cloth to the inside of it, and my plants were roasting.

There is, however, a VERY healthy and happy volunteer moonflower (Datura) growing in the corner of the greenhouse. I think it came with the floor gravel as a seed. It’s been coming up every year since we built the greenhouse. This year, though, it seems bigger and happier than in the past. Here are some of its charms:

dat_1.jpg dat_2.jpg dat_3.jpg dat_4.jpg

dat_5.jpg dat_6.jpg dat_8.jpg dat_7.jpg

Alright. That being said (and shown), there have also been other goings-on in my greenhouse. The day I took all these photos of the moonflower, I went to the greenhouse, camera swinging from my neck, and discovered that to take photos of this plant and its enchanting flowers, I’d have to move a PILE of stuff. There was a ladder, a trash can, 4 watering jugs, a step stool, and a towel, all in the way. I moved everything, and when I got to the towel, I lifted it, and out jumped the tiniest, cutest little toad! I had never seen one so handsome…he was very white and bumpy, and had tiny black, brown and red spots. I was really glad Rich was in the yard close by, because I wanted him to hold the toad, so I could shoot photos of him. We caught the toad, and I took about a million pictures. We then took him down to the creek behind the house, and let him go there. He got right into the water, and swam very well. I am still not sure how he got into the greenhouse and under that towel in the first place, but I am glad he did, and I am glad I found him in time to save him from cooking in there! Here he is, in all his tiny glory:

toad2.1.jpg toad11.1.jpg toad13.1.jpg

Happy end of June!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 at 8:55 pm and is filed under Blogroll, Outdoors, Plants. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

There are currently 9 responses to “Moonflowers & Toads”

Please let me know what you think! Your opinion is as valid as anyone else's, so come on... tell me!

  1. 1 On June 26th, 2008, Lorraine said:

    Hi Katie. That is my beloved Datura all right. I have lots of them in my yard this year. Must have been a mild enough winter not to kill the seeds that dropped around. I have never heard of them called “Moonflowers” before. Around here when we talk of “Moonflowers” they are the large white night blooming morning glory like vines that moths pollinate. I usually have a few but this year I do not. Put the pot of seedlings on the back porch to harden off and a creature dug them up and I didn’t notice in time to save them.

    Marcy and I once sat and watched a Datura open in the evening. It was truly amazing how the plant shakes loose the little hooks that hold the blossom closed. Well worth the wait.

    Lorraine

    posted on June 26th, 2008 at 5:57 am

  2. 2 On June 26th, 2008, R.E.SCHWAIGER said:

    TOADS GOOD FISHING BATE, YOU SEE THE TOADS ARE TO SMALL TO EAT BUT THE FISH YOU CATCH WITH THEM ARE A LOT BIGGER AND GOOD TO EAT

    posted on June 26th, 2008 at 10:52 am

  3. 3 On June 27th, 2008, Caryn said:

    Katie, those pictures are all terrific (as usual) but the last one of the moonflower is fantastic! And great story about the toad. He’s a cute little guy.

    posted on June 27th, 2008 at 12:46 pm

  4. 4 On June 27th, 2008, Lesley said:

    Hi Katie, that’s a most unusual color for a toad.
    The ones here are usually ‘greeny-brown’.
    Hope all is well in Moab.
    Love Lesley

    posted on June 27th, 2008 at 2:26 pm

  5. 5 On June 27th, 2008, Jürgen said:

    This Datura (is it D. metel?) might be a perennial with an underground rhizome.
    The tiny toad is really cute. Hope it survives in the creek.
    Why do you want to install the shade cloth INSIDE the greenhouse. OUTSIDE it is sooo much easier.

    Jürgen

    posted on June 27th, 2008 at 3:45 pm

  6. 6 On July 1st, 2008, barge said:

    Froggie is SO CUTE!! he is a little blessing.. I need to get out to your place soon! plants and pretty things and stuff o my

    posted on July 1st, 2008 at 12:44 am

  7. 7 On July 1st, 2008, Sonja said:

    What a beautiful toad! If he does turn into a prince, he’ll be too handsome. Before releasing him into the creek, he should have been named. The datura is beautiful. You’re lucky to have it come up a second time as we’ve been trying to get some to grow from seed, which was harvested from a neighbor’s plant, without luck.

    Love, Mom

    posted on July 1st, 2008 at 7:50 am

  8. 8 On July 1st, 2008, cactuskate said:

    My friend Dana has informed me that this little toad is a Great Basin Spadefoot toad. I looked it up, and I think she’s right. He’s such a cutie!

    posted on July 1st, 2008 at 11:29 am

  9. 9 On November 13th, 2008, Kiri said:

    I *love* the little toad, and especially the second picture where you can see his colors so well. (And the fact that there’s a fly also in the picture gives it scene a bit of drama and intrigue. :) ) He’s gorgeous!

    posted on November 13th, 2008 at 11:48 am

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