Do you see what I see in my Georgia Garden? Look on the stump.
Now can you see it?
Now you can! This Skink lives inside the hollowed out stump. Wrens have built nest's in this stump several times. Then OJ kitty discovered them. I would see him sticking his paw inside trying to get to the baby's. I feared seeing him get one of my beloved birdies so after they safely fledged, I closed the hole with a piece of Tin. The Wrens can no longer nest in the stump. Now this Skink has taken up residence.
He looks big doesn't he? That is because he IS BIG! A bit intimidating to walk upon him and spot it from the corner of your eye. Look at those neat feet.
This is a 5 lined Skink that can get up to 8 inches long. His face is bright red/orange during mating season. He comes out and suns on the stump each day. He is a brave thing as I can get really close to him and he only watches me.
Today I added a plant into the pot on the stump and he never flinched. I kept my eye on him though as I did not want him to become startled and jump on me. I would have done a major Pee Pee dance! I think it looks like a snake in this picture.
I am still weeding and mulching away in the Gardens. I keep running into these huge roots in the butterfly garden. I must get the large shovel and dig them up. I have no idea what type of root this could be. Do you? I am dealing with Big Roots and A BIG SKINK, In the Garden...Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden
Skeeter,
ReplyDeleteFun seeing that skink. Could the root be Pokeweed, if you cut off the tops the roots still grows huge.
Randy, That Skink is really neat but so large I would not mess with it. I dont think they bite but I just fear it creepy crawling on me and getting me too excited to brush it off. LOL....
DeleteI was thinking Poke Salad as the leaves looked like that. I keep finding them in this garden and have no idea why they keep growing there. I am now digging the roots and this type root is what I find below. So yes, Poke Weed indeed...
Good Morning everyone! I am running out of garden play time. Our company arrives in 1 week and I must get all my chores in the garden and house finished for their arrival.Beautiful weather to work with though and that makes it better for me....
ReplyDeleteEveryone have a great day!
I haven't seen any Skinks that big in our garden, but maybe I am not looking in the right places.
ReplyDeleteJanet, I have only seen a few of these really large ones. They just seem to only come out to sun themself then back into hiding as the sun goes down...
DeleteSkinks don't generally bother people. They do use the same paths like most wildlife. They have a path across our front porch every year! When I saw 5 on the porch at one time I had to have my husband get out his BB gun. They are really good to have around though. Do you see the bright blue striped ones?
ReplyDeleteDarla, from what I have read about these critters, when smaller, they had the blue tails. And yes, we see the smaller blue tails all the time. My favorites are the Green/Brown Anoles. We tried to rescue one from Leilo kitty's mouth over the weekend. Not sure if it made it or not...
DeleteDoes the skink eat the bad bugs Skeeter? Never saw a root like that.
ReplyDeleteLola, My lizard book tells me they eat insects and their larva,spiders, earthworms, crustaceans, lizards and even small mice! Yikes, this thing is large enough to eat a mouse! Not too crazy that it eats worms but oh well, all in the cycle of life I reckon...
DeleteI do think the root is Poke Salad/Weed...
That is a huge old skink. I'd be walking gently by it too so as to not startle it. That would be a funny dance. Maybe the root is a tuber of a banana or canna?
ReplyDeleteI wish the tubor was a banana tree! I am sure it is Poke Salad/Weed as the leaf looked like it and it kept coming up last summer in that spot. I found the things all over the Butterfly Bush garden. I wonder why just there? Hum.....
DeleteI find the Skink pretty neat to watch. He is just soaking up the sun rays and enjoying his life. LOL...
That's a big one!! They are good for eating bugs but can bite. Sounds like you two have an agreement on residence though.
ReplyDeleteYikes, I did not know they can bite! I dont bother him so I dont think he has any reason to bite me. I dont plan to go sticking my hand down into that stump either. I think he is most neat and just observe it and let it be....
DeleteI think he is great and will help keep the bugs in check.
ReplyDeleteWow, gorgeous! I would have guessed it was a broad-headed skink, though. Adult male 5-lined skinks are pretty similar and do have red coloring on their heads, but they still retain clear stripes along their body as adults (it may not be blue, though). Their heads are a bit smaller, too.
ReplyDeleteWish it was in my yard! We see anoles pretty often but I've only seen lizards like your photo down on the coast. Very cool!
Eliza, I looked in the book and it could indeed be a Broadheaded Skink. Just not sure as they look so similar. I have seen what I think to be the broadheaded as its head was huge and very bright in color more so then this one. Hum, I can only wonder which skink this critter could be.... Either way, they are so cool and I enjoy them in the garden...
DeleteI have never seen a skink...wow he is a big handsome guy!
ReplyDeleteThis one is really big and so neat that I just let him be...
DeleteYou are a braver soul than me. The root you show looks like a giant bug.
ReplyDeleteMary, I too was thinking it looked like some kind of weird living thing! It was taking over the garden....
DeleteHow cute! I love seeing wildlife in my garden. However, I'd take a skink over a skunk any day.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I have YET to see a Skunk in my yard and not in a welcoming mood to see on either. We accidently ran over one and it left its scent on our truck for over a week. Shoooooweeeeeeeeee....
DeleteMagnify that skink one hundred times and I see him starring in one of those Japanese science fiction/horror movies... The Skink Who Destroyed Tokyo.
ReplyDeleteI do think they used lizards in those movies. LOL...
DeleteI usually do not mind any critter but for some reason this one gives me the creeps. After reading the comments I almost warmed up to it, almost being the operative word. For some reason to me he really looks slimy and sneaky.
ReplyDeleteAw Jean, if you were here you would see how neat it is and you too would learn the like it. Learn bing the operative word. LOL....
DeleteI'd be doing a "major pee-pee dance" the minute I saw a skink nearby:) But Sarah is right--I guess I'd rather have a skink than a skunk in my garden. Sophie got too close to a skunk this winter--that was awful!
ReplyDeletePoor Sophie! We accidently hit one with our truck. No way we could avoid it and that thing left a smell for over a week on the truck. Shoooooweeeeeeeee.....
DeleteCool pictures. I've never before seen a skink. He is really neat. I kind of think the root is the creepy one; it looks like it's trying to grab you.haha
ReplyDeleteAudrey, I have another root that makes that one look so small. Stayed tuned.....
DeleteI just found one at my A/C unit. Ran across my foot, it DOES startle ya'! LOL Doesn't seem at all afraid of me either! I found your site trying to find out what type it was. Had no idea they got this big, but second one I've seen in two weeks. Hope he likes mosquitos and has a big appetite! Like your site, I'll stop by now that I've found it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHello Harry and welcome to "In the Garden" We are a two person blog with our Master Gardener; Tina, blogging from her home in TN while I blog from GA. We have been at this for a while now and have lots of interesting stories about wildlife and gardens. Click on the sidebar to any link that may interest you....
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