At some point in the gardening process, you realize that things are going in the right direction. For me, this happened this spring with the discovery that toads were living in my garden. Lord knows how they got into my high-desert terrain, but there they are, burying themselves in shady spots by day and patrolling and singing at night. I feel absurdly proud of my toads, and see them as a sign that my little urban mini-ecosystem of vegetables, fruits, weeds, and animals really works. Bufo vulgaris, thanks for moving in!