Tomatoes in Texas

[KLorentz]

No worries.This little guy is a member of the skink family.He will indeed eat garden pest.May even nest.Your lucky to have reptiles like this one around your garden.Do not have the exact name at the moment though but certainly a skink.



Kevin

[tlintx]

Oh, goodie, lucky me.

I knew the blackish one in the garage was a skink, but I hadn't spotted more than the tail and didn't realize this one was too! We have lots of geckos (in all colors from bright green to dark brown), but this is much larger. Last year we even had a legless snake-like lizard.

I guess I should start watering that Patio tomato again. I hate to admit that I've been too jittery to go near it. Don't know why I didn't realize that larger than usual bugs would make larger than usual lizards!

[vintagepatch]

I think I dated that lounge lizard about 30 years ago.

[KLorentz]

Originally Posted by tlintx

Oh, goodie, lucky me.

I knew the blackish one in the garage was a skink, but I hadn't spotted more than the tail and didn't realize this one was too! We have lots of geckos (in all colors from bright green to dark brown), but this is much larger. Last year we even had a legless snake-like lizard.

I guess I should start watering that Patio tomato again. I hate to admit that I've been too jittery to go near it. Don't know why I didn't realize that larger than usual bugs would make larger than usual lizards!

Do you have Green Anoles aka the American Chameleon? They are in Texas as well. I would count my self very lucky if I had a group of garden helpers like these.When I lived in Michigan it was frogs and toads.They where a big help.Along with ladybugs and praying mantis and lacewings my garden was well protected.Just think that will be less bugs destroying your plants.

It's a skink. They eat insects and won't hurt you.

(Sorry! I didn't see people had already answered your question)

I wish I had a bunch of them around our place.

Ted

tlintx,

We didn't have many lizards when we lived in South East Texas. We had some Gecko's. but I don't like them. I don't know why, but I don't like to look up and see lizards running all over my ceiling chasing bugs.

Ted

[Deborah]

Shrieeeeeeek ! Shrieeeeeeeeeeeeeek ! Shreeeeeeeeeeeeeeik !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rockporter]

We had many anoles in our yard before we moved and now I am lucky to see anything useful for the garden. The other day I walked out the front door and there was a huge toad in my front yard, so I caught him, and took him outback to my garden. I don't know if he is still there but hope he discovered an easy meal and will come back for more.

[tlintx]

Originally Posted by KLorentz

Do you have Green Anoles aka the American Chameleon?

After a quick google, I think I did have a couple of those a year or two ago. I know there was a lizard-like creature with a red throat. Didn't look last year, maybe I will see them this year?

I have a massive overgrown jasmine in a 8" square spot between the garage and fence that seems to be providing cover for a LOT of critters. Can't believe there was nothing there when we moved in three years ago!

Originally Posted by tedln

I don't know why, but I don't like to look up and see lizards running all over my ceiling chasing bugs.

I think Deborah's reaction summed up mine to this, Ted! I've caught just one inside -- it was on a white wall, doing its best to blend in. And occasionally I'll come eye to eye with one while gardening, opening the door, or opening the gate.

I am getting more comfortable with them -- I rescued my MIL from one (or was it the other way around?) the other day!

[GeneticSeed]

Skinks Harmless to your Fingers.
If it does bite you it is just your pride that HURTS!

We had a lot of Geckos when we lived in southern Louisiana. We were able to keep them out of the house normally, but they were all over the walls and ceiling of our garage. I would sometimes flip the garage light on at night just to hear them scurrying around looking for a hiding place.

When they do get into the house, about the only thing that can catch them is a cat. I sure couldn't catch them. When the dogs would locate one hiding under a chair or behind a cabinet, they would bark for hours, but couldn't get to them. Our daughter caught one in her bed the other morning and took it outside and released it. She had been watching it suddenly appear in different rooms of the house for about a week, but couldn't catch it.

We also had a lot of green tree frogs in Louisiana. They would literally cover our windows at night eating the bugs attracted by the light from the windows. The constant chirping of the frogs could drive you nuts. It wouldn't stop until you turned off all the lights and went to bed.

Ted

[tlintx]

The one in my MIL's house hid under a chest. I moved the chest just enough to see it, then dropped a Tupperware over it. No way I was going to chase it!

Sometimes at night here I hear something crunch into the windows. Big bugs, maybe? Would prefer frogs!


Tl

[Vespertino]

Doh! Looks like we're getting another cold snap this Thursday, night temps predicted to drop to 36 (weather underground) in Grapevine (DFW). My poor tomato plants are confused enough as it is! I might try wrapping them in plastic bags, I think some blossom drop I've had is related to the hot-cold-hot-cold fluctuations...

[tlintx]

I didn't protect mine when our weather was dipping that low, but they were pretty small at the time.

Have you tried shaking the plants with flowers to help ensure pollination? Some people use an electric toothbrush, but I just rattle them whenever I think of it. Seems to be helping, at least no drops yet!

Tl

[Vespertino]

I used an electric toothbrush. The problem seems to be blossoms that didn't open after the last cold snap. They stayed closed even though it warmed this week, and are now dropping. It's about 1/3 of them. The ones that opened are pollinated and setting fruit