I have been sorting through some photos that have been accumulating over the last few weeks and thought these were fun. I always have a camera nearby because you just never know what you are going to see. (warning, bug pictures coming)

This black and green spotted bug looked even more striking in person but it was a challenge to catch with my camera. If I came close it would go to the back side of whatever it was sitting on. I don’t think I’ve seen another like it before or since.

This tiny praying mantis was on the rainwater bucket one day.

A few of these wild heliconias have taken root in our yard, and now they are making beautiful flowers.

I pass this field anytime I leave our neighborhood. I thought the light gray horse was looking quite pregnant and one day, surprise, a little colt! Usually they retreat to the cool shade of the trees at the back of the field but once in a while you can see them out and about. The little one has been growing fast!

We have at least three of these little yellow headed geckos hanging around our terrace and laundry room. Occasionally we also see one of those speckled geckos. It’s fun to share our space with these little critters.

I planted some squash seeds and ended up with a monster plant that threatened to take over the entire backyard. There wasn’t enough sun for it to make fruit though, so we removed a lot of it and trained a couple runners up on the fence. This part always has its leaves chewed off and one day I spotted the culprits. Here’s a baby iguana in the middle of first picture. Look closely at the second picture though. There’s the baby iguana in the upper left, and another hiding in the leaves towards the lower right! No wonder my squash has no leaves but I do enjoy seeing these green babies.

We see these beautiful crimson backed tanagers fairly often. One day this male (first picture) landed in a tree where he was easily seen, and soon his lady joined him nearby (second picture)

It’s very fun living here. There are birds and bugs and lizards and so many things I’ve never seen before, and it makes every day interesting.