Our Backyard Zoo

I was outside looking at my milkweed "sticks" this morning and I turned around and saw a bright flash of green in the jackfruit tree. The green was very near the same color as the leaves and I almost missed this guy:


It's an anole or a green Cuban lizard.

Ok, so this thing was easily over a foot long. There are plenty of large reptiles down here, but this is the first time I've seen something this big (other than an opposum) in our backyard. I hope we don't find an alligator next!

A few branches above the anole was this large fly. I thought he looked pretty creepy - and it should be telling as to how big it was that I was able to get such a clear picture.