I was pulling some vining weeds away from the sedum and got quite a surprise

[Siwsan]

We saw one the other day in this same garden. Maybe it's the same one?

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Neat critters! They do eat those pesky bugs that seem to infest every garden, and plus, I like

watching them. They are fascinating to watch.

[MyOwnPeace]

2. Hope it didn't bite your head off!

(Oh, wait - I'm getting confused as to what they do when - and to whom......)

[Rebl2]

3. Great picture!

[BarbD]

4. They look prehistoric and they are voracious.

Cool picture!

[Joinfortmill]

5. Amazing nature.

[Karadeniz]

6. Love them!!

[calimary]

7. A mantis?

Amazing creature - and he fits right into the color scheme!

That always just amazes me.

[LudwigPastorius]

8. A praying mantis?

Does the ACLU know about this?

[BumRushDaShow]

9. That looks like a Chinese mantis

which can be huge and have even stalked and captured hummingbirds! I had one a couple years ago hanging around the feeder and I had to periodically go out and make sure it was moved elsewhere.

[Farmer-Rick]

10. I thought it was going to be a snake before I opened it

I got surprised by a snake in my chicken coop the other day. I've got snakes on the brain.

[paleotn]

11. Hey, whataya doing?! That was my house!

At least that's the look they seem to have when I run into them in the garden.