Green Tree Frog for Valentine's Day

Green Tree frog, Hyla cinerea, in Loropetalum shrub

Look before you clip!   That is my mantra.  I have cried in the past when my pruning sheers sliced through butterfly chrysalises so now I try to prune more carefully.  Today's unharmed critter is a gorgeous, sparking green tree frog, Hyla cinerea.  He was sleeping in the overgrown Loropetalum that I was trimming.   This green tree frog has a pink bouquet ready for Valentine's day!  "Froggie went a courtin', mmm-hmmm."

Green Treefrog and Monarch Caterpillar

Green treefrog and Monarch larva on A. curassavica

A lovely young Green Treefrog, Hyla cinerea, was sleeping the day away on a milkweed stem.  While I was admiring the frog, a plump monarch caterpillar came crawling up the same milkweed stem, heading toward the delicious leaves above.  The caterpillar was momentarily thwarted by the roadblock.  No worries, eventually the hungry caterpillar crawled around the sleeping treefrog and was soon eating milkweed leaves.