Appropriate Colors

I met a chameleon this morning as I trimmed frost-damaged yellow green sweet potato vine leaves. Though clinging to the green vine that I was “disturbing” and very near the off-white railing, he or she was a dark taupe color. Perhaps its squinting eyes were an indication that I had awakened it and it hadn’t had a chance to put on its proper colors. I assured it that I would be finished soon and wouldn’t disturb it further.

When I went back just now to see if I could find it to make a portrait, the chameleon had indeed turned green!

It’s another sunny though wet and breezy morning, the kind to bask in and the chameleon, despite the parade of noisy trucks passing through, seems to relish it. But I have many things to accomplish though the sunlight and breeze definitely make my tasks more pleasant.

Plenteous Pentas

I finally added a deep pink penta to my garden; the first one hadn’t yet opened when I bought it so I couldn’t tell that it was more of a “sweet” pink. Oh well, butterflies like them. Butterflies may enjoy dining on the nectar of pentas but they must not have gotten the invitation to mine; I haven’t seen a single one.

Nevertheless, the pentas' clusters of star-shaped blossoms are pretty, long lasting, bloom often and grow well. When I bought the "sweet" pink one it was the size of this deep pink one (that I got for half price!); now it has multiple branches and blooms. They like having more room to grow.

I thought I could stay outside longer this morning to write since it’s cooler but the humidity smothered that plan.

I haven’t seen any more caterpillars or grasshoppers, no lizards—just lots of tiny white flying insects. I don’t use chemicals and to a point, I reason that these creatures have a right to be outdoors. However, they don’t need to be attacking my plants; they especially like my petunias. Maybe I’ll get some fly paper.

New Resident

As I watered the garden this morning, I looked up and was excited to see a baby lizard (or newt?)! I’ve never before seen one so tiny with its stub of a tail and green stripe down its back. Though the lizard is a welcome addition, something I found trying to blend in with the geranium leaves—a grasshopper, was not! I let it know that it was not welcome and sent it flying!