I headed out into the garden one afternoon last week, gasped in disbelief at what I saw in the middle of the grass, and zoomed right back into the house for my camera!
I knew he lived in the shade garden, because I had happened on his burrow one day when I was pruning azaleas, and saw him scurrying down into it. He seemed so shy, I had reconciled myself to never actually meeting him. As fast as I sprinted to get my camera, he was still gone when I came back out. He looked so ungainly, I was surprised he could move that fast. But as I stood there, disappointed, I heard him snuffling about in the bushes. Hope rekindled, I tiptoed over to a big tree, and sat softly down under it to wait.
"I've got all day buddy," I whispered. So much for the garden chores.
I could hear him in the tangled thicket, but I couldn't see him.
I waited.
And waited.
And waited some more.
"This must be what it's like to work for National Geographic," I thought.
Short bursts of exhilaration.
With long stretches of boredom.
Just when I thought I might as well give up, he emerged from some ferns and scampered close to where I was sitting, afraid to breathe in case he spooked. He stopped a few feet away and I clicked. He didn't stick around for an encore, so this is as good as it gets!
Moving at a surprisingly fast wobble, he took off in the direction of the road, with me in hot pursuit, not only in hopes of more pics, but to act as his crossing guard since his silly a*s seemed bent on getting to the other side.
A bit [lot!] blurry, taken on the fly, but you can at least see that "svelte" is not a word you'd use to describe him! I'm sure his mama thinks he's adorable though......
When I saw his tail disappearing into the neighbours' shrubbery,
I figured I'd seen the last of him, but then he emerged again on the other side...
As he got deeper into the neighbours' garden he picked up speed,
and since I don't know them very well, I thought they might not be exactly overjoyed to look out the window and see the nutty neighbour prancing through their flower beds, so I retreated.
Back to the garden and the chores.
20 comments:
Your patience paid off! Thankyou so much for waiting! What a prehistoric looking creature he is!
well blow me down now I know what he looks like and that it is not just some name in a song.
Wow great story and pictures - have only every seen one of those in a zoo! Z xx
Oh wow, is that a real armadillo? Of course it is, it's just that I have never seen one before and... OK I sound like a star struck idiot. Of course it's real. But wow - a real armadillo...
Thank you for the adventure! :) I quite enjoyed trailing the armadillo with you! :) Thanks for the photos!:)
Eeeek! I didn't know they had armadillos in Florida! We saw them occasionally in OK. I don't remember them being so high off the groung -- I thought their legs were shorter. I certainly admire your photographic patience -- great pictures!
oh my goodness, how totally wild is that!! i love your stalking photos...
Oh well stalked. Now I havw seen lots of things in the garden but never one of those. Wow. We don't have them so I won't be trying to match your efforts. Great photos. Glad he finally obliged. Patience is one of your virtues!
Cool adventure. Thanks for sharing.
Your'e KIDDING!
an Armadillo!
I thought they only lived in the amazon or somewhere like that.
That's incredible!
That is fabulous! I would love to find an armadillo in my garden one day. It's highly unlikely, but I can imagine...
We have been rewarded by your patience. The pictures are wonderful. I can't believe having a real, live armadillo in your own backyard. We have deer, bunnies and chipmunks in Ohio, but nothing exotic.
Oh, yeah, this is Kacey using my alter image.... where I intend to hide from my family so I can write about them. lol
*LOVE* that you got those!
Ha!
He's very sweet. Good shots, and yes... I think you are right about National Geo... my photojournalism professor is constantly telling us to wait...
and wait...
etc...
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
I think you're ready for a guest slot on Wild Kingdom!
There's an award over on my blog for you. Enjoy it in good health.
He's adorable! Though, having lived in Orlando for years, our armadillos nibbled on my pretty plants and did not make me so happy. You got some great shots of this one!
When my husband heard about my new friend he wasn't so charmed! They can be a nuisance and do damage to landscaping, but this fellow has his burrow off in the bushes. The OC was remembering when we moved here first. After a few years, when our shrubs had established themselves and were growing well, he discovered a burrow close to the house among some bushes. It was an armadillo [and possibly his extended family!] Someone told him if you throw cat poop down the hole they'll get disgusted enough to move away. He got disgusted alright! He flung that cat poop right back out again. But he did eventually move on.....
You sound like me...with the camera. I keep mine in my purse or on my arm for just such ocassions. You never know what will appear. Drop by my blog and take a look at all the "ants" that live in my yard. Take care.
ravelly1-quiltzblog.blogspot.com
What a cutie! So glad you waited him out :)
I loved this post! Although I caught my breath when I saw the road picture.
It is fun to spend time in an animal's world and to observe it for a while.
I tried to find your email ane thank you for coming by my blog site and commenting. This blog reminds me that over the years and there are many we have saved hundreds of creatures from being squashed on the roads and becoming crows banquet dinner,
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