These pools that, though in forests, still reflect
The total Sky almost without defect,
And like the flowers beside them, chill and shiver,
Will like the flowers beside them soon be gone.
In his poem "Spring Pools," Robert Frost describes what scientists call the ephemerals....
.…the spring wildflowers that bloom before the leaves of the tree canopy create deep shade.
....the small ponds which dot the forest floor in spring but dry up by summer.
In early spring, ephemeral ponds are filled with breeding frogs.
One might think that a pond destined to dry up would be the worst possible place for frogs to lay eggs, but no.
Temporary ponds are the most productive habitats for spring-breeding frogs.
Ponds that dry up every summer cannot support fish. It’s that simple.
Tadpoles have a much better chance if their breeding habitat lacks predators.
Around here, “peepers” is sort of generic name for all spring-breeding frogs, but there is actually a species called “spring peepers.”
They are diminutive creatures but they’re loud. I've read that on a spring evening, a pond full of frogs can call at between 65 and 90 decibels.
And whether they cause insomnia, or fill you with the joy of spring, know that, like ponds and spring wildflowers, frog songs are ephemeral.