Thought you all might like to see a few of the critters I share space with.

That is a very cool newt.

~james

Haven't seen a wild red eft in many years nice! 

The perks of organic gardening.
I lifted up an empty soil bag yesterday while I was cleaning up and there were dozens of little frogs and toads under it. They went bounding about in all directions and I had to watch my step for an hour. I keep part of my porch constantly wet so the butterflies have a place to drink and this just attracts everybody. I love it.
Last night I took my big toad and put him on his back just to see if he'd play dead and he stayed in that position for 15 minutes - what a cutey.
I'm Impressed you know your salamanders BLB.
Remember a Newt is always a salamander but a salamander isn't always a newt.

Very nice.

When I grow lettuce (up, off the ground, in flats, and under wire) I keep it very moist and little frogs will sometimes move into the area. I love that they are there. I assume they eat aphids and things that I would prefer not to. When harvesting, I do hate disturbing them.

I have lots of little green tree frogs hopping around my figs too. When I water they hop all over the place. Love them but they are loud critters.
Sue

Is a newt a lizard? I've never seen one before, and didn't know they could survive in cold climate.

luke

A newt is an amphibian. A lizard is a reptile. It is amazing that amphibians can over winter and if they couldn't things would be so much less interesting without the frogs, toads and salamanders. This is the eft stage - an intermediate stage that's terrestrial. Adults stay in water bodies. Their color can vary a fair amount. Here's another picture to show how beautiful the color is in sunlight.

When we lived in Virginia a favorite past time was to go down to the pond with plastic newt lures - totally unarmed and hookless - and trail them along the edges of the vegetation. Amorous males would always come out and clasp the lures. Finding an eft like yours up in the woods was always the best.

Alexis, I've never heard that before - sounds like fun though. Where in VA?

Boston - outside of Culpepper. Beautiful spring fed pond near the Hazel River. 

I'm right down the road in Warrenton.

Beautiful country but down here in Texas the fire ants have taken care of the ticks LOL

Ticks we've got.

Love this one.

Great critters! Not many amphibians in my yard, although it's possible a toad may wander through sometime (though I've never seen one in my neighborhood). When I look under pots and stuff in my little orchard, it generally yields sow bugs, earwigs, and roaches. I'd much prefer the frogs & salamanders! We do have lots of resident lizards though, which is nice.

Arizona is famous for incredible reptiles.

I remember when I was a little boy in the old country we didn't have nintendo or other games so we cut off the tails of lizzards and watch them wiggle for amusement. True story.

Geeez I don't know what to say other then I'm glad you're not dating my sister. Scarey. 

These -

Someone worked their tail off lately?

Fricken excellent post! Great job - very funny - and no I do not do "lol" as I'm not a teenage girl.

Sorry to the 842 million people I just insulted especially the teenage girls.

Those photos of the little visitors are fantastic...I have a Koi pond in my backyard... and I get large visits from Blue Heron's, wanting to make a meal of the Koi...they are not as cute...

Ah come on they have such a cool silhouette in flight - sorry no pic