Celebrate The Small Things: A Tale of Tiny Lizard Lust

Welcome Blog Hoppers!

I celebrate the small things every day, here's a fresh one:

Yesterday I was gardening and since I live on the lovely
Garden Isle of Kauai a gecko encounter is a frequent thing.

This time I stopped dead in my tracks over what I saw:
a dark lizardy looking creature with a stumpy tail.

What made it extraordinary is the flash of brilliance
that appeared from nowhere underneath its chin.
I now know that this flap is referred to as a "dewlap".

The little guy was a CHAMELEON called an Anole.

I scoured the internet to find a buddy of his
that most resembles what he looked like
and it's this one (except very black):

                                                       Photo by Jay J Wilkie

Now why did he choose to flash me repeatedly
as I stood in awe watching like a voyeur?

The answer is even more disturbing:
it's a sign that he wants courtship!
They do it to impress da ladies... Haha!
(Ok, lady lizards...but still...)

Normally I grab my camera at the spark of
anything unusual and try to capture it,
but I was down in an area below ground level with
gardening gloves on and my camera was in the house.

Maybe that's what turned him on, I was at near eye-level
and he was on the cement walkway so he could
really put on a show like he was on a stage.
Perhaps I'm just giving him human attributes... ;)

Here's some more info on him from Animal Planet

So today I am celebrating all the amazing things
that I continue to find when I garden and
how thankful I am for each and every moment.

When a creature or critter goes out of its way
to make an appearance in my life I look up the symbolism.

The Chameleon means:

Use of Color as camouflage, Survival, Patience,
Ability to climb to attain ones goals, and
Using the Sun as a Source of Power

I hope I see him again one day!

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