Over the weekend the Man decided the Hill needed mowing, so I finally relented and allowed him to sacrifice my flowers. There is always a point near xmas when I fold, allowing him to get up there and do a bit of clearing. Generally the fold occurs when the weather gets hotter and the lizards get bigger.
Usually we have lots of small skinks in the garden, as most Aussie gardens do, they live in our flowerbeds and along our driveways, and come out every time the sun peeks out. When it gets hotter the bigger lizards like Blue Tongues start coming out into the garden more.
When I see them it reminds me that where there are good conditions for big lizards the snakes will not be far behind. Long grass and sunny days are a scary combination at times, so after the first few lizard spottings the Man has no trouble when he starts making forays up the Hill with mower. Especially as that is when the kids want to run around up there in shorts.
I have had to save a few Blue Tongues from being monstered by our little Jack in the last week, so I knew the time had come.
Singleton Argus 14 Dec 1892 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article82452155
When I found this article today it made me glad that the Man got the grass under control…
Imagine the speed with which these surveyors were running when they realized they were in the path of a fire on a mountain in Lorberry, Ohio, in 1892.
Now imagine their increased turn of speed once they saw the oncoming wave of fleeing snakes right behind them. I am not sure what would make me run faster, a looming bushfire or a sea of frightened snakes hot on my heels!
Of course our mower-shy neighbours might get a slithery visitor seeking sanctuary sometime soon as their unkempt grass grows right up to the house…. (insert evil laugh here).
Oh I do love it at Christmas when all the lizards come out… I wish they did here! Are they safe? Because they sound amazing!
🙂 Xmas lizards. They should be wearing little santa hats shouldn’t they? Although wandering through the undergrowth with a bright red hat would defeat the purpose of being so well camouflaged…..
They are safe. If you try to pick one up you will get a bite but mainly they just want to be left alone. One was harassed by Jack and when I went out to stop her it retreated to the woodpile right over my foot. I felt so sorry for Jack ruining its day that I put a strawberry in the hole and apologized.
We like them so much that Jack is now confined to quarters during the hottest parts of the day which is when they are on the move. As a typical Jack Russell she wouldn’t leave them alone and I don’t want her to think it is ok to attack them.
What do you want to bet they broke a speed record? 😉
This reminds me of a time when we caught a lizard and were horrified when its tail fell off. One of those detachable deals, but sickening nonetheless.
I think I would have broken a few records as well!
Those ever-present skinks that I referred to in the post are of the tail dropping sort too and it is horrible the firs few times you see it. 😦
Being engulfed by a combined wave of flames and snakes – that’s pretty much the ultimate nightmare right there…….
It could only get worse if in front of you was a shark infested ocean….
I am, officially, terrified!
An army of snakes fleeing the flames….
I hope for their sake it was a downhill run!