All photographers learn to enjoy light. These upright elephant ears (some form of alocasia) are so beautifully backlit they would be interesting even without the patterned raindrops and veining and the anole’s shadow.
But I’m not complaining about the photobombing anole. I like the spreading toes (I’m scared of snakes, so lizard toes are always a reassurance) and it interests me how our minds interpret height from the strength of the shadow. We know the head is raised because the shadow is softer – it’s a three dimensional shadow, not a flat one.
This green anole lizard was benefiting from the vision and hard work of Jesse Yancy, a literary gentleman who has raised a garden / wildlife haven on land around the edge of a small, concrete car park that he does not own in Belhaven, Mississippi.
His blog, Mississippi Sideboard, gives little hint of the richness and diversity of the garden he cultivates, other than being a repository for folksy, home-cooked Southern recipes that use ingredients his guerilla garden produces. Here’s a link to his just-gilding-the-sweet-potato-a-bit recipe or, if you prefer, the simplest of cornbread recipes, written so evocatively you may not even spot it’s a recipe at all. Use his search box to discover more.
Back in the garden, disturbed by my attention, the anole retreated to a favourite leaf where it could peer out without revealing too much. The shape of its body pulling against the leaf reminded me of one of those carnivorous trumpet pitcher plants with a capped top (sarracenia). No doubt the anole had insect-catching on its mind.
Shared as part of Becky’s January Squares: Limelight
Susan Rushton 
Lovely image
I’ve just realised I’ve seen a lot of them out hunting, but I’ve never seen them catch anything.
Wonderful pictures, like a fairy tale!
Perhaps it’s a prince that didn’t want to be a toad.
Each element on its own would be interesting but having them all together makes a wonderful image.
Thanks, Steve. I was lucky with this.
Interesting and love the rain on the leaves
It seems to have fallen in patterns.
Amazing photography I actually like lizards since im a desert dweller
I like lizards too. These ones are especially sweet.
oh this is so wonderful. A true limelight square, but that last shot of it peeping out is my favourite!
I wonder if they are all as wise as this one seemed to be?
Maybe you should ask it!
Great images – love the anole peeking out from behind his leaf! đŸ™‚
It had staked out the perfect territory.
Oh my, how I love these! I have always loved these animals and would never leave the place until the little one was gone. Beautiful!
I stayed until it vanished. đŸ™‚
Yes! ♥
Perfect shots! Love the anole.
We see them often in my sweetheart’s garden, but this one was a bit special.
Fabulous picture, great interpretation of limelight, both leaf and anole!
Thank you!
Gorgeous photos (as usual) and I LOVE your lyrical and clever title. Perfection!
Thank you!
That second picture is fabulous – and worth a chuckle. Such a cutie! Wish we had lizards.
We don’t have them in Lancashire either, but I make up for it by looking out for them whenever I’m over with my sweetheart.