When the Frogs Appeared

There’s a point in the evening when the garden settles. The light softens, the air cools, and everything slows just enough to notice what’s really there.

That’s usually when I become aware of the frogs. I don’t ever see them. They stay low and hidden, close to damp soil and shelter, but their presence is unmistakable.

Frogs are incredibly sensitive creatures — they don’t tolerate pollution, chemicals, or heavily disturbed environments. They arrive only when conditions are right. That’s why they matter.

A little frog sanctuary, read about how you can create one to encourage our green friends here

When frogs show up, it’s a quiet indication that the soil is healthy, the water is clean, and the garden isn’t being pushed beyond what it can sustain. It tells me that the balance is there — that the small, often unseen systems are working as they should.

I don’t use pesticides or harsh treatments. I leave leaf litter where it falls quite often, allow plants to self-seed here and there, and accept a bit of untidiness in exchange for resilience. The garden isn’t controlled; it’s supported.

So when the frogs settle in, it feels less like coincidence and more like confirmation. A sign that this space is doing what it’s meant to do — holding life, quietly and without fuss.

That’s the kind of garden I believe in.

Kat