THE LILY-PAD FROG AND THE PRINCESS.

The air was particularly fragrant that morning. The scent of flowers across the entire pond was never finer. It was a good place to be for a frog.

He sat on a half-submerged leaf with the sun full on his face. With particular satisfaction he reflected on the three lady frogs he had covered the evening before. Many tadpoles would issue as a result of that profligate dalliance with those notable dainty strumpets.

Then his patch of sunlight suddenly darkened. A large princess, notable for her extreme ugliness, unruly manner and gross weight, lowered herself into a heap on the very edge of the pond. It was clear to him that she intended to sit there for a considerable time and thereby blocking his place in the sun.

He shuffled around on the lily-pad and said to her: “If you kiss me I will turn you into a beautiful creature.”

Well, what was a girl to do? How could any girl, especially one of her disposition, pass up on such an offer!

She got down on her broad hands and broader knees and leaning far out over the pond kissed the frog – and was immediately turned into a beautiful butterfly.

The frog ate the butterfly and the sun shone down on his pond as before.

Patrick.. 

TIP-TOE TOWARDS THE HEN HOUSE!

 

At this time of year wild foxgloves are common in our woodlands. But what an odd name for a flowering plant! 

Yet hens know all about the dangers of foxgloves. When on their slinky stalking of chickens foxes know it is important not to make any noise. Over thousands of years of evolution foxes have evolved a process to guarantee hunting success. They sit down in the forest before they commence their stalking and taking flowers from foxgloves they pull these flowers onto their feet, one to each foot like slippers. In that way they can approach unwary chickens without making a sound.

The next time you are walking in the woods with children you might like to tell them how Foxgloves get their name!

Regards – Patrick.