We saw several large iguanas hanging out on the shore of the Macal as our canoes drifted past. One was about 50 feet up in a cecropia tree, bobbing its head up and down to tell us intruders to get out of its territory. This one was on a rock right at the side of the river. I was hoping to get a decent picture of it as we drifted near, but it leapt into the water before we got too close.

Fairchild Tropical Garden has a large population of green iguanas, most likely escapees and releasees from the pet trade and their descendants. We saw a dozen large adults in a few hours, nearly all in pairs. Most of them would crash off into the vegetation or dive into the water when people got anywhere near, but this fellow posed nicely for me.

This lovely green Christmas iguana was lounging on a small dock in one of the numerous canals that criss-cross south Florida to increase the home values. It's missing the foot and foreleg on its front left leg. When it finally grew tired of me sneaking ever closer in the quest for photos, it calmly slipped over the edge of the dock, softly splashing into the water.

The iguana population at Fairchild Tropical Garden seems to have grown even healthier since the last time I visited. I saw numerous pairs of adult iguanas here and there, and one marvelous palm overhanging a lake housed at least 16 iguanas of various shapes and sizes. This photo shows one area of that palm. I count 7 iguanas in this picture. I had no idea iguanas were so social.

It's official: Fairchild Tropical Garden is now knee-deep in iguanas. This one was putting me in my place with its macho head-jerking, dewlap-displaying behavior.

Whenever I'm in South Florida I stop in at Fairchild Tropical Garden for my iguana hit. Here's an early morning basker.

Bill Baggs park, on the southern tip of beautiful Key Biscayne, is another South Florida spot the green iguanas have made their own. This youngish iguana was just off one of the most popular walking trails, clinging vertically to a thin tree trunk.

The old zoo grounds at Crandon Park, also on Key Biscayne, have an iguana density that has to be seen to be believed. Not only are the Green Iguanas (like this large male hauled out on the shore of a meandering stream) cluttering the place up, but they are possibly even outnumbered by Gray's Spiny-tailed Iguanas.

Iguanas are very comfortable in water, and they often splash noisily into lakes and rivers to escape perceived danger. I don't know if this one had earlier escaped some perceived danger, but it didn't look very worried to me when I came across it lounging in a large shallow pond.

Are you tired of seeing iguanas at Fairchild Tropical Garden yet? I'm not.

The one at top was doing its best Boyd's Forest Dragon imitation, slowly rotating to hide behind the branch it was clinging to as I got closer.

The one below was in full macho male mode, bobbing its head and strutting about like he owned the place.