Watch My Food Grow ~ A South Florida Raised Vegetable Garden

Florida Backyard Raised Vegetable Garden

Cuban Knight Anole

April 13th, 2014 by Lila Steinhoff

Apple Green and Lightning Fast (Sort Of)

Heading out to the car this afternoon, a flash of intense green made its way down the front fence. Actually, the flash was the color, not the speed. It was a Cuban Knight Anole.

Cuban AnoleCuban Knight Anole

This particular specimen is 16 to 18 inches long. Anoles can grow to 20 inches. The sun shining on his skin makes him look positively iridescent. Anoles will change their skin color if they get stressed, but this guy picked the best he had.

Cuban AnoleCuban Knight Anole

First Meeting

Neighbor Bill (Jacqie) Jackson, who has lived in Florida for a year and a half, had his first meeting with another of Florida’s free range critters. Something this intensely green and 18 inches long makes an impression.

neighbor and AnoleNeighbor and Anole

Pretty and Useful

Anoles live high up in tree trunks and tree canopies. Not sure where this one came from, but we’ve had a pair of anoles live in the canopy of our palm tree in the past.

Cuban AnoleCuban Knight Anole

They aren’t just pretty faces, either.

They eat insects, which helps my garden; they also eat smaller lizards, flowers and fruit… which isn’t as big of a help.

Cuban AnoleCuban Knight Anole

For a closer look, click on any picture to make it larger, then click on the right or left side of the image to move through the pictures.

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