Hidden Visitor

Summer in the sub-tropics means the gardens are bursting with wildlife. Alongside ladybugs, toads, hummingbirds, and earthworms, the ever-present garden lizard can be discovered often hiding between the herbs or running along the fences. On this rainy day, one little green garden lizard, also known as the Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis), was sighted hiding in the turmeric plant leaves, seemingly examining the world from its perch. As an unexpected garden companion, the lizard provides countless benefits by consuming insects, slugs, and other undesirable tiny organisms. Garden lizards are moreover quite sensitive to pesticides and pollutants thus having a good population of these little animals demonstrates a healthy garden ecosystem.