Heaven help anyone that is afraid of lizards in Houston this year. They are literally everywhere! This little fellow is a green Anole and if you catch his eye he will reveal his bright red fold (a dewlap) under his chin and puff it in and out. Kind of like a flasher… He also has pretty blue eyelids that you can just see in this photo. One of my kitty cats, Toffee, was literally addicted to lizards (they have a taste that cats love). If there was a competition, I would be the world’s best lizard catcher. Their tails will come off and regrow when they are predated. If you hold one of these little ones in your hand you can feel the tiny claws on their feet and their little hearts beating fast – am I a predator or a good Samaritan? One big black one bit me on my palm; ungrateful lizard!
This shot was taken at Mercer Arboretum, following on from my last post. I mentioned that the gardens had been damaged by flooding and this is a shot of the creek below.
It is probably hard to imagine that this little creek not only broke it’s steep banks but 7ft of floodwater ravaged Mercer Arboretum. Here is a link to an article about the arboretum’s flood. The creek is always silty but it is still full of fish, especially big catfish, alligators and snakes. Given the devastation it is astonishing to see these new plantings below.
Crape Myrtle trees are the stalwart of the south – they can survive drought, flood and even frost. On our property we have three hot pink trees, one fuchsia and a miniature deep red. They brighten my life with their eagerness to live in harsh conditions. This is a Google link to various color varieties. One neighbor has a particularly pretty variety in palest pink but with mulberry leaves.
I had no idea lizards were flashers! 😀 I lived in Indonesia for a while and saw lots of huge monitor lizards, but they were most certainly NOT the flashing kind. Crape myrtle trees are amazing…I have to head to the south one of these days. 🙂
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I think it is just the Anoles who flash, no other lizard has flashed. Plenty of creepy men, though… 🙂
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Creepy male lizards, or creepy male humans? 😉
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Homo sapiens, of course… 😉
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I love lizards too
Liben xx
>
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🙂
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The new flowers beds look great – grow flowers grow! We had quite a few Crape Myrtles at our Dallas home, you can always depend on them. Okay, the lizard – yes, we had so many of these in Dallas, they were everywhere. Kerry, be sure and read my post this Saturday – it involves a lizard! Great post, stay dry! 🙂
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I have the greatest respect for volunteer gardeners who can do that in our hostile weather!
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I agree, and especially in Houston – I know about the humidity there! 🙂
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I too love flowering shrubs. Flowers are great, but shrubs take care of themselves! Maybe the lizard is related to the Japanese pole vaulter in the Olympics!
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I had to google ‘Japanese Pole Vaulter’. So now I feel like a creepy female stalker – thanks John… Mind you, if you’ve got it, flaunt it. 😜
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Lmao!
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😺
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I’m glad I’m not the only adult who admires lizards and things. My parents use to get those little geckos in their house, and I had no issue with snatching them and freeing them outside. I think they’re neat 🙂
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I behave like a 10 year old boy when out walking. I stop and look at every critter (and even dead critters). I bring back unusual feathers for the cats – they liked the blue jay feather. 😺
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Your comment made me laugh, because it made me remember a time that I was walking with a friend and I pointed out a lizard scurrying by. I even shouted,”Look, lizard!” 😆 She told me I reminded her of her 4-year-old haha.
I love that you bring back little surprises for your kitties. That’s too cute.
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My worst habit is investigating the scat (droppings) of coyotes or owls to see what they had for lunch! LOL!🐺
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We don’t have lizards this far north (that I know of)… just the occasional snake. I’m not a fan of the latter, so it’d probably take some time to warm up to encountering a lizard…
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Oh, you would! They are so cute and they feel warm in your hand (as do snakes). Look at that lovely little face! 🐍
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I love lizards, but we only have geckos and skinks here. But what pleasure the natural world gives us! No matter how down I feel, birds, animals, insects and flowers can always cheer me.
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I feel exactly the same! I chase down exotic lizards on the walking paths just to see their beautiful coloring. I like the blue tailed skinks.
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The lizard pic is amazing ! Great shot ! The Crape Myrtle tree certainly sounds like a winner…. 🙂
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Thank you, Lynne. Crape trees make even Houston look beautiful… 🙂
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Gorgeous!
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Thank you!
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I’m so scared of Lizards!!! Nevertheless, beautiful beautiful shots!!
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Thank you so much! I am scared of moths and cicadas… 🙂
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I wonder if I can grow that Crepe Myrtle here in RI? I love the colors and it seems to be a very strong bush. I love that little lizard baby, though and I think ZuZu might find him a tasty treat, too. Roxie would think it’s disgusting.
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I am not sure if Crape myrtles grow that far north – they really need heat to bloom. That was an adult Anole – they don’t grow very big. 🙂
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🤔 🌸 😀
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so beautiful these pictures
Lizards make me afraid, there are many in my isle
thank you for sharing
Kisses
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Ce lézard était si minuscule mais les gros lézards peut être effrayant. Regardez son ancien poste pour voir un au Mexique. https://chattykerry.wordpress.com/2014/05/25/yucatan/
Amour et baisers
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Oui si c’est miniscule, c’est pas tro effrayant
Merci pour le lien, je vais checker
bisous et très bonne journée
🙂
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I wondered what was peeping through the flowers (sort of looked like a snake head), glad it was a lizard. So your cat actually ate them? I never had any small animals around for my cats to play with but I heard that when they bring you a dead mouse or similar animal that it’s like a little present – yuck! I’m lovin’ all your flower pics!
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It was tiny, Stephanae! Over the years our cats have presented us with many offerings. Snakes, moles, butterflies, mice, voles….. Thank you re the flowers. Next up is a travelogue. K x
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Awe, I don’t know what it is about tiny animals but I typically find myself gushing over them. My two cats were kept indoors. If they would have ventured outside and brought me back a snake, well I’d probably have a stroke. Looking forward to your travelogue.
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The snake was an asp – the one that killed Cleopatra…
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YIKES!!! 🤓
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