The Frog Garden.
This spring John built a new garden. He had an interesting concept. He found this in a magazine but we lost the magazine so if someone reading was the writer of this please get in touch and I will give credit where credit is due as this is a great little garden.
In a nutshell. He dug a shallow wide hole close to the woodshed (the Woodshed is called the Wendy House). He lined this depression with heavy plastic. 
He layered broken bricks, gravel and broken concrete (just rubbish that will drain) onto the plastic. He divided the hole into three -lengthways, and created a channel through the middle part with concrete blocks. The outside two parts he filled with the excavated good soil and compost, etc. 
So the raised beds are in a U around the channel of water. With a boardwalk running above the channel. He weeds and works from this little bridge. 
He ran a pipe from the guttering on the Wendy house to the channel. This filled the channel with water when it rained. This water filters outwards and waters the plants. It is so simple. And it would be perfect in a small backyard garden. 
It grows fantastic peppers and eggplants. I worried about mosquitoes but this little garden is noisy with these guys. This is why it is called the Frog Garden.
Boo
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
65 responses to “in a frogs eye”
You’re right what a wonderful notion
and so cleverly used to perfection…
I hope that you are enjoying a very
nice weekend my friend 🙂
Androgoth
i am having a great weekend, Andro, the weather is divine, must be time for me to go to the dark side and see what you are up to! c
Very nice. Especially Kermit. 🙂
Hi Klaus, that frog was so cool. he just sat and watched me as I wriggled up the board walk ever so slowly trying to get closer.. i am not a wildlife photographer by any means , so I was pleased that he was so patient. c
Beautiful garden! Hey, can I get an eggplant parmigiana, and a slice of sourdough bread please? Thanks for a wonder post.
God Bless You
paul
Welcome Paul, it is lovely isn’t it, such a change from the big gardens where we grow heaps of stuff in rows.. have a great day.. c
So beautiful dear Cecilia! I loved your photographs, your peppers and eggplants! And yes, these frogs too… I can hear them… You are amazing. Thank you dear cecilia, with my love, nia
Thank you Nia darling, i hope you are having a great time finding cats for us to see.. c
I thought you were going to tell us a story about meeting your Prince! lol! Fanstastic idea this. Lovely photos as usual especially the prince! Thanks for sharing.
Regards Florence.
Laugh.. oh florence.. after i posted it i thought i should have added a recipe for frogs legs!
Wonderful!! We built a pond in the hope of attracting frogs, but none have come yet! I’m a tad worried about disturbing the neighbours too – are they noisy? We’re right in the middle of suburbia…
They are kind of noisy in the spring but I have not heard much lately, except repeated splashes as they all jump off their bricks and into the water as i walk past..i even have one who lives in a rain barrel, right at the back door, hiding under the overgrown plantings. i am sure frogs will come. It seems you need a neglected garden with lots of growth!! c
Love the garden idea and the frog close-up, Cecilia! One of my favorite John Derian decoupage trays features a frog that looks just like your guy. And I also wanted to thank you for the Shepherd’s pie recipe earlier in the week; it’s my favorite comfort food as well. Unfortunately, several generations of American schoolchildren were introduced to a very mushy, corn and mashed potato-dominated Shepherd’s pie in their school cafeterias, so the more recipes from Britain (and New Zealand) that get out there, the better!
Oh the poor darling children in those nasty cafeterias,Miss Salem, one of my dreams is to be GIVEN a school cafeteria, a free hand and a reasonable budget.. just imagine the jump in retention if those kids were eating actual FOOD! AND the jobs when we have to source that food locally! OK I am trying hard not to climb up on my bandwagon. c
Those peppers are gorgeous. Frogs behind our house make so much noise in the summer. There’s a creek back there and Katherine sometimes jokes we should try our hand at frogs’ legs.
Well greg, Kathryn is being very naughty.. tell her no eating the legs off those little froggies, how will they Hop! .. ok that was pretty lame.. sorry.. c
Great jumping bullfrogs… Hey I have all the cats you would ever want to see, if you are talking about domestic ones. Not that I am much of a cat person, but after rescuing a pregnant one 6 years ago, they have a monthly vote now, and so far have decided to let me stay.
If you get a chance, being a drama teacher, you may like to read my article about “Alton Brown”…oh, and by the way, being from NZ, I hope you read enough of the Turtle Sourdough Bread post to not become offended when I spoke about the Tasmanian Devil..hehe, I love the guy, and wish him the best. Okay…I go read your sourdough post now…God Bless You
paul
I am not offended Mr Thunder because tasmanian devils are from australia! very cute that your cats get a vote.. Now I am off to read your article on Alton Brown..
I love this idea..maybe next spring!
Nice photos. I enjoyed the visit.
J
Thank you misty, it is quite the success! lovely to see you again.. c
Now that is a cool garden idea! We have a bunch of tree frogs and toads around here.
Do you know the name of this frog Harold? c
I have a strange feeling about this question. So I will let you tell us. Do tell!!
What was the question harold? c
You have got to tell me what settings, lens, etc. you used to get that great frog eye picture! t
Oh dear, Miss T, well it is a really old Nikon with a lovely 18-70 zoom. I set it onto auto focus (bad girl) when i saw him so that i could work faster with a very narrow depth of field. I just do stuff without thinking really. terrible.. c
Well you do some pretty amazing stuff without thinking then! And sometimes auto focus does have its merits 😉 t
Yes, Miss T, though of course we would not admit it! c
Ah! Allies in my fight against spiders! May your frogs live long and prosper! Great idea for the garden, too, by the way. You don’t want those eggplant, do you?
hi John, aren’t those long aubergine the best!! This is the first year we grew them and they hold their shape so well when cooked. c
Just look at your amazing garden.. I love it. And the frog actually looks gorgeous as well. Those peppers just look amazing. You always provide the most amazing stories for us to read here on this blog.
It is a sweet garden Kay. It would work well in a little backyard too. I love this frog as well. Thank you Kay! c
I wanted a moat around our house but Dave said no. Pity, cos I love the sounds the frogs make 🙂
A Moat Tandy! How could the man say no to a moat! Frogs eat bugs too so he is a useful frog as well ..