A Frog House Save the Frogs Day, Our Report.

Whether you were or were not with us on May 1st, 2022, for our fourth annual Pittsford Save the Frogs Day, we thought we would share the fun with you on this pictorial blog. All photo credits go to Rob Corby and Lindsay Graham except the first one.

Starting and ending at A Frog House at 65 State Street, Pittsford, NY 14534, Pittsford’s fourth  Save the Frogs Day, on Sunday, May 1, we attribute our achievement to

1) the generous grant of $750 from SAVE THE FROGS!   

2) the knowledge and willingness of former Village of Pittsford mayor Rob Corby, to step in at the last minute in place of Frog Watch Trainer, Invasive Species expert from the Seneca Park Zoo, Dave Will, who contracted Covid that morning.

3) good weather with a little rain just as we were ending  

4) a donation of 50 Eastern White Pine trees by Boy Scout Troop 260, led by Kristen Thornton, MD and her husband Steve Brauksreck.

Seedlings in a nursery at A Frog House awaiting permanent homes. Photo Credit Margot Fass
Belen Patiño, general organizing assistant, taking registrations
Board Member Bonnie Garner, all in blue, adding elegance and wisdom to A Frog House.

It was so gratifying to be joined by Bonnie and Jane Coggshall McConnochie, another Board Member. Jane was able to stay briefly before going off to help out at a local Audubon group, but Bonnie took the walk with us as well. Our first volunteer of the year, Cora Clouser, gave out SAVE THE FROGS! stickers and information cards and sheets, both of which are very popular, and showed off SAVE THE FROGS! Frogabilia.

Left, Katherine Denison, A Frog House Designer, and volunteers Trisha Gonzalez and Greta Stephanie all pitched in, setting up and taking down. 

Greta brought two of her friends, a loyal threesome indeed.  Barb Gibson, right, had wanted a membership in A Frog House for her birthday in February. That inspired us to make up a special card for her, which said “First Member”, and general membership cards for 2022.

Banner designed by Katherine Denison in 2019.

With clothespins and clips, Rob and Jim Moyle put up our 6 banners on doors and fences.  These were originally hung around the village in 2019, when Rob was mayor, and will be again one day, we hope.

Only six people registered on line, which was actually pretty good, given that all of the Instagram and Facebook planned information for the week before the event got overlooked and not posted.  

The other guests registered on site, and we ended up with at least 20 adults and 12 teens and children, from as far away as Irondequoit, Henrietta, Walworth and Avon. The teen from Walworth was delightfully decked with frog pins, barretts, necklaces, and appliques, and I can’t believe we missed a close-up photo of her!  

Adults and Scout Troop 260 at our Frog Pond.

The frogs did well transitioning into their new and bigger habitat this spring. 

Bonnie and Clyde, our two green frogs that found their way to our little pond last year.

During the first hour, our guests also browsed our permaculture garden, A Frog House proper, and SAVE THE FROGS frogabilia, posters and art.

Guests got to know each other, and Anika got to know Suzanne’s dog Ginger
Some had snacks, Gail and her friend Rev played a driveway version of tic tac toe.
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is tsSkzfatkjr3yNXvuaEAy8VJcvgZUxCA0gZGm9Dr8DrVfpeTTqzNirL0PXqYrJcRfR23mU4q7bUr7Gh8w2dnk9ACMVeSQ5TGN8q9hEYgJF6vwjCETB24IjEpQDDGhKs2PwZDyfVoGrRD7OCMxA
All waited patiently for the program to begin, enjoying the beautiful canal surroundings. 
At 2 pm, after I explained what had happened, and talked a little about frogs native to our area. Rob stepped up to the plate.
Rob leads the way to the Erie Canal Nature Preserve.
Rob explains eutrophication and oxygenation.

At the north edge of the Preserve, there are four ponds and wetlands, which are in need of renovation. Rob’s opening talk at the Pittsford Library on March 31, and his unexpected presentation on May 1, were both essential in increasing awareness among our neighbors about the need, ways and means of getting this renovation done.

Rob pointed out invasive plants and trees in both the Erie Canal Nature Preserve and the Village Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary, as well as challenges in removing them. 
Group members all kept respectful distances, but were engaged and happy with the presentation.
Lulu, Robin and Jim Moyle were all genuinely impressed with the information, and several people took notes.

Like his scout mates, this youngster seemed to have a good time, and they all enjoyed going down to the ponds. 

Woman in jeans, last words I heard as she went to her car:
“That was terrific!  I can’t wait for the next event!”
Rob and Trish were delighted with the day.  
Becky, A Frog House 2022 First Member

Becky was among the first to arrive, and literally the last to leave.  What a joy to have a world where young and old alike can work and play and learn together.

What an honor and a privilege!

Postscript:

Rob posted almost 30 photos on his own facebook page that very evening with a description of his experience:

PITTSFORD’S 2022 Save The Frogs Day Celebration.

SAVE THE FROGS!  

SAVE THE ARBORETUM

A beautiful warm spring day brought out a large crowd for the annual Save the Frogs Day event, sponsored by the Pittsford based environmental advocacy group A Frog House. 

The focus of this year’s talk was invasive species.  A guided tour through the Village Arboretum and the Erie Canal Nature Preserve identified locally common invasive species and  the challenges surrounding their management. The discussion included a description of the different ecosystems that work together to form a 30-acre wildlife sanctuary in the heart of Pittsford.  The Village Arboretum provides woodland and meadow habitat and food for many animals, such as native gray tree frogs, that spend part of their life cycle in the adjacent wetlands and ponds.

The group passed by the native shrubs and trees planted a year ago in the Arboretum that are now leafing out.  Unfortunately after the trees were planted, all work at the arboretum was illegally halted by the newly installed village mayor.  The setbacks that stopped progress at the Village Arboretum were discussed as well as proposals to help get the project back on track.  A petition to the Pittsford Village Board requesting progress resume at this very unique and important community project was circulated.

The tour resulted in an engaging discussion about the increasing importance of protecting our local ecosystems and wildlife which really is the true purpose of Save the Frogs Day. 

For those who wish to sign the Village Arboretum petition, they may do so at A Frog House [or here]. A Frog House is located on the Erie Canal towpath just east of the State Street bridge and is open from 1 to 5 on Sunday  afternoons.

Flyer designed by Katherine Denison

This flyer was distributed from A Frog House along the Erie Canal towpath, and in several dozen locations around town.  It was in our event description posted on our website Save the Frogs Day at A Frog House, and on our Instagram and Facebook sites.  The news was on several sites, including Pittsford Concerns and Happenings, but we were short a staff member due to covid, and therefore short on promotion. . We posted our event description on our website: Save the Frogs Day at A Frog House, sent out a mail distribution announcement with our newsletter, posted an event on Facebook.com/AFrogHouse, and continued with reminders on Instagram and Facebook.  

We sold one set of chimes for $20, and received $230 in gross income for online tickets, as well as $136 on site (Total, $386). Unfortunately we were unable to sell any of the beautiful carved onyx Frogs from SAVE THE FROGS!, but whenever we do, the money will go directly to them, our favorite charity.

Calls to action:

Advocate

Collaborate

Donate

Educate

Volunteer

and Save the Date for another exciting Save the Frogs Day event next year on April 28, 2023.