Im my childhood I remember them being big in grannys garden. Then they all dissappeared and we went without seeing any for a decade or more.
A few years ago we bought grannys house and started building soil and not using any pesticides, now we have giants bigger than I ever saw as a child.
That's really cool. I've been seeing more reptiles every year since I bought this place (10 years ago). The little green anoles and pink geckos are almost an infestation. Frogs and toads everywhere, too. I think that's one of the most satisfying things about developing this homestead, watching the wildlife increase and diversify.
My dad passed away right before I bought the property, and he was a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan. For the past several years, we've had a growing resident population of cardinals. They're one of the most abundant birds on the property now, which makes me so happy.
