A bit of adrenaline

Went out to the back garden to bring some stuff in just now, and as soon as I went out, something out there clearly heard me coming and tried to make a run for it. It sounded big(ish). Probably the neighbour's big furry cat thing. No problem I thought, its legged it. Then I heard more banging and clattering. Proper noise, coming from the area of the pond and the greenhouse. I went over, wondering why the cat hasn't legged it like it usually does if it hears me coming. Maybe its stuck somehow. No cat. I figured its now on the other side of the fence.

Then suddenly more banging and clattering, this time unmistakably coming from the greenhouse. The neighbour's cat once did manage to get its self trapped in the greenhouse before, so I unzipped it, said "come on, out you come" expecting an embarrassed mass of fur to skulk out trying its best to look like it meant to do that, but no, then more loud banging and clattering.

At this point, I am convinced it as not a cat. No idea what it is, but not a cat. I slowly backed away, went and got my big torch, put the flood light on, and watched. Intermittent banging and clattering. The unmistakable commotion of a cornered/trapped animal panicking. It sounded big, and it wasn't a cat. I figured I have to help it escape, but at the same time I don't know what it is, how big it is, or what it will do if I unzip the door and the only thing between it and freedom is me, so I picked up a weapon. The first thing to come to hand, which bizarrely was a sweeping brush.

Sweeping brush in one hand, torch in the other, I went in for round 2. I stood to one side, unzipped the door, and waited. Nothing. So I took a deep breath, held the brush like a lance, and popped round the corner ready for action. I could still hear commotion, but couldn't see it. Then there it was. Big Frog, our resident frog that moved into the pond a few weeks ago. She must have gone out hunting then headed back to the pond via the greenhouse. Trouble is, the door is on the garden side, and the pond is behind it, so it was heading in the right direction, but I buried the bottom of the blowaway when I built it, to stop the wind taking it away, so poor Big Frog was probably faced with an impenetrable wall and was desperately trying to find a way through. I couldn't believe how much noise one frog can make when its panicking.

 

Frogs every garden should have them. They turn up in the most unexpected places, sheds, conservatory, greenhouse, compost heaps, when weeding, it is so good to see them.
My 20 year old grandson came for me yesterday, I was up the garden. A large green dragonfly had come into the conservatory and could not find his way out. It was so big I had to use a Pyrex bowl and card to take him/ her to safety. ..my usual bee remover was too small. Like frogs, newts, etc I try not to pick them up unless I really have to.
Amazing how many people are quite afraid of frogs.