Garden Critters

 

I'm always seeing a variety of animals who make the Desert Botanical Garden their home.  I thought I'd show a few that I've photographed over the years.  These are all photos that never made it onto my blog before but they all deserve a chance to shine.  This rather plump rabbit was happy to pose for me.

The desert spiny lizards are plentiful at the garden.  I see at least one almost every time I visit.  This one posed for me on top of a rock.  I love his turquoise neck.  

On the other hand, the frogs are a little harder to spot.  When I near the little pond, I peer into the water looking for them.  Sometimes all I hear is a splash and other times I can hear them croaking but I can't find them.  I was lucky this day when I saw this one peeking up out of the water.

This duck was just visiting one day last year.  There is only one small pond on the grounds so ducks don't usually hang out here.  I think this one was just passing through.

It appears that a group of the wonderful peach-faced lovebirds has taken up residence.  I see them often and if I don't see them, I at least hear them.  They are not native to the area but as you've seen on my blog before, they seem to be thriving in the wild here now.

This is just a few that I've encountered.  I've posted many others in the past and will probably post photos of more in the future.  It's one of the joys of walking at the garden.