Frogs

[Janet Baraclough]

The message from "Michelle" contains these words:

For that good humoured grace, now you deserve a serious reply.

If you really, really mean that you have something approaching a frog-phobia, or just that they make you feel very tense and panicky, then the best solution is to address that problem in yourself. You can follow a programme of desensitising yourself to the trigger combined with learning coping-techniques, until the problem feelings fade away and no longer bother you. This is very gradual, completely no- threatening, and can be extremely effective. It's what I would do in your circumstances. It's worth it to fully enjoy gardening, your garden and all the magical life within it.

Your doctor should be able to supply a suitable reference.

Janet.

[Doug Kanter]

Doctor shmoctor. Find a nice picture of a toad online. Find the best deal in your town for 8x10 prints, and take the digital file there. Plaster the pictures all over the house. Don't forget to put one in a standing frame that sits on the nightstand between you and the alarm clock. Making love in the garden would also help, especially if it's a damp evening when toads are hopping around. Maybe associate them with good things, you know? :-)

[Mathew in the Mountains]

Import several French Chefs, prefferably from Bordeaux. Very soon you'll have delicious frog legs & no slimy creatures in your garden.

Seriously though, frogs are a sign of a healthy ecosystem... Why would you want to mess that up?

[G Henslee]

No need for French Chefs.

[Lady Blacksword]