If you ask us, Sarasota’s official mascot should be the lizard; even last winter’s record-breaking cold spell didn’t seem to make a dent in the local population, which scurries around our yards—and often inside our homes as well. James Phillips caught this lizard—or to be more precise, anole—perched on a statue at the Ringling Museum courtyard on a steamy summer day. Puffing out his dewlap in a display of proud territoriality, he adds a living dimension to our classical tradition, and is proof positive that Sarasota really does offer the perfect blend of nature and art.

jamesphillipsphoto.com