Last night we had a gray tree frog on our glass door.
Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor)
As I tried to take its picture, it leapt off the door and onto the siding. I stepped out and tried a little flash photography (the above being the result).
I wasn’t sure at first if I had correctly identified it because the color seemed off, so I looked it up. That’s when I found out what the species name versicolor means. Yes, they can change their color like a chameleon, only not nearly as fast. I think that’s pretty cool. No wonder they always seem to match the bark of the tree they are on. I don’t often see them, but I don’t think they are uncommon.
Today before church started I went out to the Pathfinder trailer to fetch a backpack. On the way I spotted a plant I had never noticed before.
Orange Grass (Hypericum gentianoides)
I thought it looked like a little tiny St Johnswort, and as it turns out, that’s exactly what it was. I was running late so I didn’t have a chance to take a careful photo of it. We’ll have to settle for this very hurried hand-held shot instead. I read up on this one too, and now I think it may have been a good idea to be late for what I was doing rather than pass this one up. The blossom only opens when there is strong sunlight. Maybe I’ll get another chance soon.
I sure hope so.
Jomegat's Weblog 
September 1, 2012 at 11:00 pm
We have little tree frogs similar to that on the north side of our house. Some of them like to stay in the barbecue and so I have to make sure they get out of there before I light it up.
That is an interesting plant! We don’t have that species here.
September 1, 2012 at 11:07 pm
When Va told me there was a frog on the door I immediately assumed it was the gray tree frog. I think that’s the only species we have here that is capable of sticking to glass.
September 2, 2012 at 5:07 am
Tree frogs are cool. They can be very noisy here at times. At least I think it is tree frogs making the racket.
September 2, 2012 at 7:50 am
The wikipedia article has audio. After listening to it, I know I have heard them many times before. Their audio recording also has a green frog (banjo pluck) and spring peepers in the background.
September 2, 2012 at 7:22 am
I got a shot of a little suction cup toed frog in the woods a week or so ago and haven’t been able to identify it. It might be the same one. I’ve never seen the orange grass. What a strange absence of foliage. It doesn’t look anything like Dwarf St. John’s wort. Interesting!
September 2, 2012 at 7:52 am
NH Fish and Game publishes a card showing all the NH frogs and toads in the state. The gray is the only one with suction toes.
I had never noticed the orange grass before yesterday. The leaves clasp the stems kind of like coltsfoot does.