The Frog Blog: What's that NOISE?

If you visit the Conservatory to see Working Model for Standing Figure Knife Edge you may find yourself serenaded. That's because the Conservatory is teaming with frogs and other critters. I highly recommend you stop by at night. The chorus is crazy loud, and the subdued lighting makes the theatrically lit piece "pop" even more. Some folks are able to find the tiny frogs (1/2" or so?) by following their sound. I not that talented and require a guide...someone like our amphibian conservation scientist, Dante Fenolio, who submitted today's blog:

Epipedobates tricolor with tadpoles

The Conservatory is home to a number of free ranging amphibians and reptiles. Visitors get to experience the loud trill-like vocalizations of poison frogs during the day. For example, we have quite a population of Phantasmal Poison Frogs hopping around that make their presence obvious through their loud calls. These small frogs (roughly an inch in total length) are rust to maroon in color with stripes (full or broken) that range from mint green to pale blue in color. Originally from Ecuador, males of this species vocalize to attract potential mates and to advertise territorial boundaries to potential rivals. Females deposit a clutch of eggs on the damp forest floor. Males allow the hatching tadpoles to squirm onto their backs, after which they carry them to a pond. The tadpoles develop in the pool form that point onward. The presence of free ranging amphibian populations in the Conservatory is special because the Garden’s frogs represented the first free ranging population of poison frogs displayed in the United States.

Eleutherodactylus coqui calling

As the sun sets, the cast of characters in our Conservatory changes. Just as our poison frogs are settling down for a nights rest, Puerto Rican Coqui Frogs, Green House Frogs, and Tokay Geckos begin to stir and to fill the night air with their vocalizations. The Coqui Frogs are famous on the island of Puerto Rico for their two tone call. We have hundreds of these frogs living in the conservatory and the chorus that they create on warm summer evenings can be deafening. Adding to the chorus are the repetitive peeps that Greenhouse Frogs produce. Not to be outdone, the Tokay Geckos produce a loud two part bark that can’t be missed. For those that haven’t experienced a tropical forest at night, our Conservatory is certainly a good introductory experience.

Exposing the public to a realistic representation of a tropical forest, through our Conservatory, is important to the conservation mission at the Garden. When people experience the feel of a tropical forest, we hope that they will begin to develop an appreciation for the complexity and the beauty these forests have. Following suit, we hope that folks will support conservation efforts to conserve these rapidly dwindling natural resources. Special moonlight tours are often offered via our website. With flashlight in hand, we like to offer these nocturnal experiences which expose the public to a fantastic resource that all Atlantans have in their own back yard. If you have a chance, please check in with the website from time to time and come by to experience the amphibians and reptiles in our Conservatory at night.

Alice, Elisabeth, and Henry

Things have been HOPPING at the Garden. Last week we opened Scarecrows in the Garden with 107 participants, and kicked it all off with the Fest-of-Ale. Around 1000 people were at the Garden for the event last Thursday night, enjoying Moore, scarecrows, beer, and banjo music! The festivities continue all month, so come out and join us for the final weeks of Moore in America.

The following post is from one of our fabulous and amazing volunteers Alice Pugh and her young friend Elisabeth.

Alice: Elisabeth visit’s Moore in the garden. She consults her map to find the names of the sculptures.

We entered thru’ the Visitors Center and found Three Piece Reclining Figure Draped at our first stop. She learned what reclining meant . Then we stopped at Draped Reclining Mother and Baby. This lady and her baby were so high that Elisabeth climbed up on the rock wall and walked back and forth to get a closer look. “I found the baby’s ear” she exclaimed. Now we both knew to look for more details.

Seated Woman is at the top of that hill. We checked the name at number 4 on the guide. “What do you think?, " I asked. “I like it!

Alice: We walked to the blue and silver Chihuly glass in the fountain. The sparkle, colors and sound of water were irresistible. Perfect time for a photo op.

Elisabeth: I really liked the fountain with all the glass and water spraying everywhere. I wish I had one like this at my house!

Alice: Next stop: Large Totem Head. Elisabeth thought the large opening and shiny rib between the openings were eyes with a nose.

Elisabeth: This (Large Totem Head) looks like a big face with a long nose and huge eyes. I think it would make a cool Halloween mask - but it might be too heavy to wear trick-or-treating. I think I would scare everyone and that no one would recognize me.

Alice: Then we visited another reclining figure, Reclining Figure: Angles. This lady had more defined features on her face. Elisabeth noticed the knot on the back of her head and the funny angle of her head and neck. We noticed her large feet.

Elisabeth: This statue (Reclining Figures:Angles)was cool, because it is sitting down with her head turned all around her, like an owl can do. I wish I could turn my head like that.

Alice: No visit is complete without making a wish at the Moon Gate to the Japanese Garden. We make a our wish. When we stopped at Reclining Mother and Child, Elisabeth did not think that the child looked like a baby. When I asked about a papoose, she said, “No.”

Elisabeth: I liked the fish in the ponds alot. It looked like there was lettuce for them to eat on the top of the water. I also liked the real frogs in the pond.

Alice: Large Reclining Figure had to be viewed from the back away from the Great Lawn. The structure for the Garden of Eden Ball was under construction. Elisabeth thought the lady had her mouth open to the sky. On a tour earlier in September, a second grade boy thought she had a big hole in her head. All is in the eye of the beholder.

When we visited Goslar Warrior, Elisabeth found his ear on the side of his head. Her first thought was that the shield looked like a jar lid. Elisabeth really liked the view of the Atlanta skyline thru the opening in Oval with Two Points in the Bog Garden.

Elisabeth: I like looking through this (Oval with Points) to see all the buildings downtown. It made them look closer to me.

Alice: When we found Mother and Child in the Orchid Center, we saw the two people mentioned in the title. When we looked more carefully on the right side of the work, there was a third arm that can not belong to either Mother or child. Elisabeth said the arm and hand were too big for the baby and in the wrong place for the Mother. We decide that the Daddy was the only person left to imagine.

I knew that I would find more if I listened to a child. Elisabeth, a first grader from DeKalb County, showed me more than I had found on my own. Thank you Elisabeth for spending your afternoon visiting Moore in Atlanta.

Elisabeth: This statue (Mother and Child) reminded me of my mom holding me when I was very, very tiny. She can't hold me just like this anymore, because I'm bigger now.