Newborn in the bush

What a wonderful surprise I spotted yesterday when I was watering the mistflower and butterfly bush...a tiny, tiny anole. It was clinging to the butterfly bush and well hidden. You can't really tell from the photos, but I met it measured less than one and a half inches. Its mother is probably the anole that likes to hang out on our Texas Wildscape sign.

Sign of life

In our front yard, we attached our Texas Wildscape sign to a low black trellis. Every few days, we spot a resident anole perched on it. A day or two ago, she was shedding her papery skin. I snapped a photo or two before she scampered away into the nearby turk's cap.

This evening, I ran for my camera when I saw this praying mantis, also enjoying the view from our sign. They are just the coolest insects!


I still had my camera out when the sun back lit the cat whiskers in our back yard. As I was shooting, some kind of fly or bee zipped into the picture for a few frames. Nature is just so beautiful and wondrous.

James shot this pretty angle of the cat's whiskers....

More anoles

Yesterday, while showing my parents and uncle around the front yard, we noticed a male anole in the turk's cap. The day before, I'd spotted a smaller one. Well, this guy ran deeper in the foliage. I found him. Or so I thought. Wow, he'd already caught a cricket!

But not so. It was the smaller anole (probably female), chomping on the cricket. The male cozied up and onto her. James shot several photos, and this one came out the best. By the time he shot this, however, the male had departed the premises. That's the female with the cricket in her mouth.

Why all the anole photos? In years past, I rarely ever saw an anole in this yard. But this summer, we're up to five. I think it's because we're creating more habitat, which gives them a place to hide from cats and other predators.

I've loved anoles since I was a child, and it's really wonderful to see them returning to our yard.

Anole again and bats, too

Every day, I check out the African milk tree, looking for my "friend." He's usually there, hiding among the limbs. This morning, he was extra bright green so I ran for the camera. (Actually, to be honest, I don't know whether it's a him or her. I just think of it as a "him.")

Yesterday, he sashayed over to the front porch screen door, which was quite a long trip in anole miles. Lindsey spotted him there. Guess he was hunting up a meal. By evening, he'd returned home.

Today, we're trying to get a bat house up, which has turned into quite a project. A friend gave it to us. He'd had it awhile and never hung it up. It has three chambers and is constructed of cedar. As for putting it up, I spent some time researching the process online at Bat Conservation International. Houses should hang at least 12 feet above the ground (that's measuring from the house's bottom, not top) and be at least 20 feet away from branches and utility lines.

Finally, after reading and reading, I decided that we do need to stain the house, which will strengthen its durability and help it last longer, too. So now we've got to buy some stain. I've already caulked seams along the roof, which is recommended.

Wish us luck!

Secret resident

For the past few weeks, I've noticed a green anole, living within a potted succulent (Euphorbia trigona) we keep on our front porch. I love these guys. I had a baby one as a child that I kept in a jar. Until I accidently killed it. I cried about that for years. However, this fellow is well protected, as long as he stays within the succulent's bristly arms. Because, alas, we do have three cats who would just love to do him in, if they could. I've sworn NO MORE CATS after these three pass to a better, higher place. Called cat heaven.

Anyway, today I looked and look, then found him hiding in back of the succulent. So I got some photos. Aren't they intelligent-looking creatures?

Green anole (Anolis carolinensis)