Playful frog sculptures coming to garden
If one frog is fun to find in a home garden, what would it be like to find almost two dozen larger-than-life ones in a 65-acre woodland garden known for its collection of California native and Asian plants?
“Ribbeting,” says Jeannie Perales, executive director of the Sonoma Botanical Garden.
More than 20 charming anthropomorphized amphibians, in Instagram-worthy vignettes, will be on display throughout the garden from April 5 to Aug. 31.
“Ribbit Exhibit has been traveling to gardens around the country for nearly 20 years but never to the West Coast,” she says. “Having seen Ribbit at another garden a few years ago, I remembered how much I enjoyed the frogs' whimsical poses and stories and I am excited to bring this playfulness to the Sonoma Botanical Garden.”
Some of the friendly frogs include Sasha the ballerina; Jeeves the butler; Marvin the marvelous lawn-mowing frog; Willie Fisher with his fishing pole at the garden's pond; dancing Grace and Floyd; Emerson sitting on a bench; Bentley and his tortoise Tortuga; Zenny in a lotus position on a lily pad; and Fred and Ethel as “American frog gothic.”
They all sprout from the imagination of North Carolina metal sculptor Andy Cobb, who fashions the 4- to 6-feet-high creatures from copper, colored with natural patina.
“A few of the frogs are meant to be (respectfully) interacted with — like Emerson who's sipping coffee on a bench, welcoming visitors to join him,” Perales says. “Others are perched high in a tree or atop a plinth out of reach.”
Those who go on a Wednesday evening are invited to bring a picnic and their pup because well-behaved, leashed dogs are now welcome to attend the garden's Acoustic Sunsets with their families.
These are extended evening hours with live music, lawn games and other family-friendly activities.
The summer season at the garden will bring once-a-month Sunday Fundays with face painting, arts and crafts, family yoga, music, story times and prizes for completing a frogthemed scavenger hunt.
“We encourage guests to hop on to our calendar often for these special offerings throughout the spring and summer,” Pe