A few years ago we installed a tiny ornamental pond in our back yard. Since then it has become a haven for a thriving community of Pacific tree frogs. They are a fraction of an inch long but they have the biggest voices imaginable, and this time of year they make sweeeeeet, sweet love to each other all night long. The noise can be deafening as they let each other know they're in the mood. I am really surprised the herons don't come in and clean them out for us.

I am pleased since I read somewhere that frogs can only live in toxin-free environments which means we are doing something right, but our neighbors actually are not too thrilled because of the noise. It's hard to keep the pond clean when it's ripe with tadpoles so we tidy up before and after the taddie season and they seem to do okay in the meantime.