Charming garden creatures include the toad. You're missing out on birds, butterflies, and bugs. Though lumpy and bumpy, they're cute and useful in the backyard.
Toads are frog-like amphibians. Nearly two dozen North American toad species exist. Unlike water frogs, toads are terrestrial. They hop, stroll, have dry skin, blunt noses, rounded bodies, and short legs.
Many are tan, brown, or gray to match soil, leaves, and rocks. Bumps on toads. They're not warts, contrary popular perception. Toad paratoid glands poison predators.
Two years ago, I planted many lycoris kinds. One variant has fall foliage instead of spring flowers. Advice for growing red spider lily? asks Spotsylvania's Tom Howard.
Toads eat meat all the time. Beetles, slugs, crickets, flies, ants, and other invertebrates are their prey. For natural pest control, a healthy toad population is best.
Although garden toads don't eat plants, they benefit from them. Toads hide from predators in plants. Native plant garden beds attract toads better than bare lawns.
Create toad habitat. Place your new toad habitat near shaded water. For an entryway, turn a flowerpot upside down and prop one side with rocks.