A bright spot in this crackly, dry, South Texas back yard during the drought of 2011 is the toads. First there was one. Now there are four.

From left, they are: Under, Pigeon, Webb and Nema.

Sometimes you can tell which is which, but normally they hop too fast for even a quick wave.

However, they did sit still for this photo, and before our session was through, the three toads that originally showed up became four.

If you want to attract toads in your yard, provide them a home. Gutters like the two side-by-side holes in the photo provide a natural living space for these toads. If you don't have a gutter, you can use an upside-down clay pot with a hole knocked in it for a door.

Toads need water. In this resort, the toad pools are filled daily. The toads especially enjoy a spray from a water hose. It appears to remind them of the rain that has been so scarce in Texas. This family appeared right after their pans were filled from a hose.

Although you can feed toads fruits and vegetables, they are pest controllers. They eat grubs and worms. Maybe, just maybe, they eat fire ants. Keep in mind that spraying poison to kill bugs not only erases a toad's natural food supply--it poisons their home.