# Today in nature I saw **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854 "2020-07-20T18:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 206
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4104 "2026-04-29T20:14:03Z")
I think I saw Bugs Bunny do that in a cartoon! ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4105 "2026-04-29T20:21:37Z")
I think I saw Paul Newman do that in Cool Hand Luke. Shaking it here Boss, still shaking it! ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4106 "2026-04-29T22:48:29Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > It ran under tire after tire, in front of and behind. Climbing tires and coming back down. “Frogger” mousie style. * * * Michigan got semi-spring warmth and rain, so the lilacs are doing this: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/rjWxPPW.jpeg "Lilacs!") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/lilacs-a0O5Ptk#rjWxPPW) [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/rjWxPPW.jpeg "Lilacs!") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/lilacs-a0O5Ptk#kXOLq8X) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4107 "2026-04-29T22:49:11Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > “Frogger” mousie style. Ha ha, exactly! ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4108 "2026-04-29T22:49:29Z")
[![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/rjWxPPW.jpeg "Lilacs!") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/lilacs-a0O5Ptk#kXOLq8X) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4109 "2026-05-05T20:07:37Z")
oops - back in a mo j ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4110 "2026-05-05T20:09:21Z")
First reptile of the year. As the range just appears to be Europe, I had better clarify that this is a slow worm. So: a legless lizard, not a snake. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczNziM02kHVwFlU168YUKuDefuhxNf1ApqFyt4zoZSVMvBPDjEqGKBuaVD8jcl-8NwbHV4ltttg7xLZPEQwjzYxh4Q-RDiRI3xy46A003pTpihn1xvA=w600-h315-p-k "New photo · Tuesday, May 5 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOiV2iH1Ved8T5V9j-DTujIsMf5MsZQ8qm70skFym9N48UXOz0p-Ie_KknvZwB2Og?key=TkhudFRQSXRFR3Fta3BzWnpOdmFGb0taRzNJYjBB) j ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4111 "2026-05-05T20:22:00Z")
On another subject… Bluebells are more or less over now, but it’s been a great year (visually) for wild garlic. I’m specifying visually because it’s been very dry for several weeks, and for the fabulous aroma of wild garlic, you need a bit of moisture – so that’s been sadly lacking. Because it’s been dry I’ve been riding trails, frequently with the trail lined with garlic, I haven’t been able to take a photo which captures this – the best I could do was actually this flight of steps in Borde Hill Gardens. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczNf8qRgrew61Ql51dgvI2J8jn_FEyACZqnNtOo_3rDeH5phnUEkbiXcB1KWY0wt-7q13xPUfGp62cXpnFmphBNzIQWvXhqpiH-ghRlSd9hGmX3muNU=w600-h315-p-k "New photo · Monday, Apr 27 📸") ](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipP-_ykY9Rm71g4gS7TsHi8RCvr6-4liR5ECijl1j8FKfSQKH8b0rB71Cw1aX76UFQ?key=TTUtUGpJNkF6Y1AyZFJSZmdBbW5TU04wSlY1MDVn) j ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4112 "2026-05-05T20:22:50Z")
Hmm, interesting. I’ve never met one of these things (and am not likely to have the opportunity). A lovely place you’ve got there! ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4113 "2026-05-05T20:27:28Z")
That was on our allotments, on a neighbor’s plot. So I’m extremely jealous. Interestingly, slow worms give birth to live young. (Edit: not quite, it seems (my bad); delivered in eggs which they immediately exit.) > **[Common slow worm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_slow_worm)** > > The common slow worm (Anguis fragilis) is a species of legless lizard native to Europe. It is also called a deaf adder, blindworm, or regionally, a long-cripple, steelworm, and hazelworm. The "blind" in blindworm refers to the lizard's small eyes, similar to a blindsnake (although the slow worm's eyes are functional). The common slow worm, i.e. the species Anguis fragilis, is often called simply "slow worm", though all species of the species complex comprising the genus Anguis are also called "... j ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4114 "2026-05-05T20:31:03Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I’ve never met one of these things (and am not likely to have the opportunity). You could potentially meet a [distant cousin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_glass_lizard) 🙂. We’ve got several very similar-looking legless lizards in the U.S., they just tend to be little seen since they often like to stay under leaf-litter. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4115 "2026-05-05T20:43:05Z")
I sure could! They’d love it in my yard. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4116 "2026-05-05T22:56:13Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Interestingly, slow worms give birth to live young. (Edit: not quite, it seems (my bad); delivered in eggs which they immediately exit.) Let’s simply call them **[ovoviviparous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovoviviparity)**. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4117 "2026-05-06T19:31:39Z")
Today I accidentally dug up a baby pokeberry plant. Look how big the taproot already is. (The whole thing is maybe 8 inches long.) [![](https://i.ibb.co/wh8CxHSB/IMG-20260506-103419806-temp.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/wh8CxHSB/IMG-20260506-103419806-temp.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4118 "2026-05-07T19:36:43Z")
My daughter took this picture today of two alligators. See them? [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55255813620_9e2f0d1f0c_b.jpg "Gators") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/45215582@N06/55255813620/) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4119 "2026-05-07T19:50:09Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > My daughter took this picture today of two alligators See them? Cute! Pity they grow up and then try to eat you 🙂. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4120 "2026-05-08T15:05:48Z")
In the campground at Pinnacles National Park yesterday, an acorn woodpecker. These guys are very common in the oak woodlands of California. Their “_waka waka waka_” call is very distinctive – supposedly it was the inspiration for Woody The Woodpecker’s “laugh”. [![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOdhEw1ocBhwahMoo_fvqZfXBr-WnKS4BTA5Zq_yti8qwOepbRWeDktC6eZ5BpFQkK5SnucIHBFIs8WIgjdj2rR579nXs3yqs7vYUozKNvmwT5YlSO9HvS_h0q1R35Sd4uOXOYBzJOXjgG6NCNIUSLuLw=w596-h796-s-no?authuser=0) ](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOdhEw1ocBhwahMoo_fvqZfXBr-WnKS4BTA5Zq_yti8qwOepbRWeDktC6eZ5BpFQkK5SnucIHBFIs8WIgjdj2rR579nXs3yqs7vYUozKNvmwT5YlSO9HvS_h0q1R35Sd4uOXOYBzJOXjgG6NCNIUSLuLw=w596-h796-s-no?authuser=0) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2026, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4121 "2026-05-10T15:55:41Z")
I haven’t seen it yet but … On my allotment one of my fellow allotmenteers has found the sloughed skin of a grass snake. So now we know that there are still grass snakes active on the allotment. This is a much bigger deal in the UK than it would be in - say - the US. Excellent news! j ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4122 "2026-05-11T02:03:23Z")
I’ve been growing my Amophophallus konjac plants in the same 26 x 36 inch container since 2014. This year I needed to relocate the container, so in early March before they woke up for the year I dug out ever corm I could find (around 70 of them), moved the soil to the new location in three wheelbarrow loads, moved the container, refilled it, and replanted the corms. In the past couple of weeks this year’s leaves have started breaking the surface and I have been transplanting some of the corms to new containers to give them more growing room. Three times while digging I unexpectedly ran into long “stems” where the leaf had already opened underground and the corm was somewhere deep towards the bottom of the container. All three times the thin “stem” broke and I found only one of the tiny corms: they were so small that I had missed them in the soil while transplanting and they ended in the bottom of the container. Tonight I found a leaf breaking the surface around a half-inch from the wall of the container. That’s obviously too close and I definitely wouldn’t have planted it there so I knew it had to be another small corm that was missed when dug everything out. [![](https://i.ibb.co/5WM7C4nC/Amorpho-20260510-184936739-superlong.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/5WM7C4nC/Amorpho-20260510-184936739-superlong.jpg) I started slowly digging with my fingers as carefully as I could trying to reach the corm without breaking it the stem. I ended up with this. It amazes me that a corm that small can produce a “stem” that long, and I wonder how much further it could have continued reaching for the surface before running out of energy. [![](https://i.ibb.co/4n2q85VZ/Amorpho-20260510-185634228-superlong.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/4n2q85VZ/Amorpho-20260510-185634228-superlong.jpg) I replanted it a little distance away from its original spot, more shallow but still much taller than ideal. (It’ll have the container wall for some protection.) While replanting it I uncovered another small skinny leaf-tip, but it was far enough from the wall that I didn’t need to try to dig it out this year. [![](https://i.ibb.co/9mbtzTyw/Amorpho-20260510-190111148-superlong.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/9mbtzTyw/Amorpho-20260510-190111148-superlong.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854/4123 "2026-05-11T02:46:52Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Amophophallus konjac People actually eat something named “shapeless penis”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=205) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-nature-i-saw/915854.md?page=207)