Peepers

My 7 year old and I saw our first Spring Peepers (Hyla crucifer) over the weekend -- a couple of optimistic boys hoping girls might still be interested this late in the Spring (the peepers, not us). We had been very excited, because this was the first year we've heard peepers in our backyard (a .4 acre parcel in 1950's era suburbia). What an amazing experience to hear these critters for so long and finally see them. It was awe-inspiring and calming -- a religious experience. Like eastern skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), peepers have always been a wonderful harbinger of Spring for me. We are glad to see them.