Hello Everyone, I have spent my entire day reading on the bullfrogs. I started out with searching for ideas on how to turn a inground swimming pool into a pond and I got sidetracked. We have a pool we haven't used for years and it always has water in it. We have always had a frog in there from time to time, but this year we have seven bullfrogs. And, I think tey've moved in for good. Well, maybe we only have six now, I forgot about the poor soul that my cat and dog teamed up on last weekend. That created a project for my husband and I to make a surface to go inside of the pool with tiles for the frogs to bask in the sun on, instead of get out of the pool (which they still do). Up, until reading all the info on these forums about the bullfrogs, I loved them. Now I'm just not sure. My friends and family think I'm crazy. I haven't seen them eat any birds or other frogs, I do know that I'm always dishing out toads that fall in at night. I did at one time have thousands of tadpoles and then one day they were all gone. I guess the bullfrogs ate them. :( Anyway, reading this has been a hoot. I would attach a picture of two of them, but now sure how to di it!

You still didn't provide any proof in the form of external sources, other than your own anecdotal stories. How about listing some of your 40 books so we can read them and see if they mention iris toxicity? If none of your email friends have mentioned iris toxicity, that does not prove that it is non-toxic. Handling without gloves without a reaction does not prove that it is safe for ingestion. It's these logical fallacies that make me doubt you, that and your lack of proof in the form of external sources, and your emotional reactions. WHY have you got so much emotionally invested in this? Also, if Terry is a sheep rancher, why does he list his occupation as construction on his blog? Is he just in fact a construction worker with a blog in which he posts catalog entries? Is his claim of being a sheep rancher with 1200 varieties of iris pure fiction? https://auth.gardenweb.com/members/nzirishunter http://historiciris.blogspot.com/ http://www.blogger.com/profile/00616914124654381895 Is it ok if I contact the The New Zealand Iris Society to check his credentials? http://historiciris.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-05-23T08%3A23%3A00%2B12%3A00&max-results=8 Are you the same Mu/Mike who came to his defense? https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8674461137690378952&postID=6611178826332382441 Mike, is this your profile? http://www.blogger.com/profile/08107625113455022938 If so, is Terry such a good friend of yours that he came halfway around the world to come to your Thanksgiving party last year? http://1bigtree.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=31 I am pleased to see that at least you do have property and lots of pretty iris, though I didn't see pictures of 700 varieties of them, you do have some lovely iris. I especially liked the Katherine Hodgkin. http://1bigtree.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-23T15%3A49%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7 Still, given all of the above, your friendship and defense of each other, the attempts of the The New Zealand Iris Society to shut down Terry's blog, his misrepresentation of his occupation, the claims of both of you of having HUGE numbers of iris (700 and 1200, respectively) but most of all, your claims of being experts yet your obvious and willful ignorance of the fact that Iris is toxic, and refusal to look at the evidence I've presented...Is it wrong for me to suspect that the two of you might be a couple of Hyacinth Bucket-like posers? Not that there is anything wrong with that. I just want to know why you insist that iris is non toxic. Where is your proof, and where did you get that idea from? Seriously, dude, have a heart. If your friend Sixteen Candles comes over with her little grandson and you turn around to see that toddler putting iris into his mouth, are you going to tell me you wouldn't run over in a panic and make him spit it out? Some things are more important than pretensions. Couple more sources proving toxicity http://www.cfa.org/articles/plants.html The Cat Fancier's Association Listed here are plants poisonous to cats that must be avoided if there are cats in your home. Note that lilies, in particular, are dangerous to cats. http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/poisonous_plants.html Earth Clinic Iris Is a wild and garden flower whose leaves and roots are poisonous. http://www.wpr.org/book/090621a.cfm NPR has a segment on gardening today including poisonous plants that gardeners might not be aware of on To The Best Of Our Knowledge. You can listen on the computer.

Hi Victoria, WOW! You did such an EXCELLENT job of preparing the perfect package! Items for... brightening my garden, pampering my senses, and things to record seasonal changes, plans, thoughts for next year in my garden. I personally think she should win ~Best Gift Robin 2006~ Here is a pic of all what was sent... and I'll describe all the goodies in the box after the picture. In the box was a gorgeous clay (ceramic) Garden Angel, and a journal, cute Geddes cat pen. I plan on using the journal and pen to make notes/thoughts on the garden this year, and plans for next years garden! Also, gardening gloves/seeds were included. Italian parsley, Astilbe, Sweet Basil, Culvers Root Alba, Coriander, Nepta Subsessilis, Window box sweet peas, Monarda, Gloriosa Daisy, Dill. A few packages of Sweet Ginger peach tea --YUM! (I can't wait to try this tomorrow) and write in my new journal about all the new plans I have for several new window boxes my Husband promised to make me. Along with revamping a few flower beds! Some bulbs were included-- a bag of Crocosmia, and a flash light. Does she think of everything, or what? LOL! Jobes plant spikes..to insure some good healthly houseplants! And stuff to pamper myself with! Sugar Pear shower gel, Sugar Pear Lotion, Sugar Pear Body Butter, Sugar Pear Body Mist. I love the light scent! It smells sooooo good! Just when you thought the box couldn't carry anymore, LOL! A grooming kit, plus 2 cucumber melon candles! And the box was a gorgeous cheeta animal print along with a cheeta print hand towel! Also, a clay thermometer, potpourri, and a CD she personally 'mixed/burned' all the songs for. Its such relaxing music, I love it! I hope I didn't forget anything! I'm sooo happy with the box, you really out did yourself, Victoria! Thank you soooo much! Hugs,

Admitting to doing evil things to animals is something I just can't understand. I think of it in about the same light as I would if someone admitted to doing bad/illegal things to little children. Animals often don't have any way to know that what they are doing bothers us. They are just doing what they do naturally. I know some of the comments I sometimes see on Gardenweb are just joking around, and that's alright as long as the poster ensures that the reader knows they are just kidding. But, admitting to torturing animals or needlessly killing them is something that speaks extremely poorly of the person making the claim. Sometimes we are forced to deal with animal issues that negatively impact us. When this happens there are usually many varied solutions. Civilized people will solve the problem in a way that doesn't involve torture or needless slaughtering. People that do evil things to animals are one of the very lowest elements in society (a.k.a. scum).