Big Lizard in my back... I mean orchid.

[got ants]

Unfortunately, I have become accustomed to the brown anole to the point that I let them live. Now if I had some native green anoles in my yard, the brown's would be hunted out. The biggest reason is the adult brown anoles willl eat juvenile green anoles, and probably why the greens have just about become wiped out.

I can literally count on 1 hand the green anoles I've seen in the past few years, and I work outside and would have 1000% chance of coming across them then the average Joe.

In my small backyard, I've encountered 10 different species of native snakes and they of course are revered. Mostly because they keep the invasive exotics somewhat in check.

I also have three frogs to contend with. Two are immediately dispatched with, and the third gets whatever he wants. The first two are the Bufu and Cuban Tree frogs (Bufu is actually a toad) Bufos Marinus, and the Cuban tree frog osteopilus septentrionalis. Both of which are heavy predators of our native tree frog, the Florida Chorus Frog.

Maybe not kosher, but when I come across the natives out at my customers properties, I catch them and release them at my home. This includes the green anole, FL Chorus frogs, and native snakes.

One of them that I am just getting a viable population going is our Glass Snake, actually a legless lizzard, Genus Ophisaurus. I have a friend who finds them from time to time, and brings them to me. After about 8 of them from my buddy, I now see them on cold mornings sunning themselves and my patio deck.

Cheese!! Did I run on or what? This is a big deal with me..uh DUH!!

[Connie Star]

Good for you! The less charismatic species so often get overlooked whether they are flora or fauna. We all need to be aware of the roles each plays in our ecosystems, whether rainforests or back yards.

[orchids3]

Here in Florida we have learned to shake and examine plants before be put them in the house - It does the frogs and lizzards a favor plus the wife. Remember lizzards scurrying upside down acoss the ceilings in Vietnam and the Philippines - ate lots of bugs but they occasionally lost their grip in the middle of the night and fell into the bed - Not a prob in the Philippines but often got the 45 pulled from under the pillow in the middle of the night ready to shoot anything that moved. Learned to be careful which lizzard I shot.