Thursday 16 June 2011

Garlanded Crocodile

This crocodile waddled into the water wearing a huge blossom on its head.  Huge blossoms had fallen into the surrounding water from a nearby tree, and garlanded the croc.  I managed to take this picture before the flowers floated away, because it made such a strange juxtaposition of sweet and scary.

Since I concentrate mostly on places not too far from England, you can perhaps guess that the croc was not lurking in tropical waters. I saw it at a fascinating place in France called La Planète des Crocodiles, in the Poitou-Charentes region.  This sanctuary for crocodilians is housed in a big glass dome full of striking tropical plants flowering and fruiting all over the place.  The sanctuary is heated by waste heat from a nearby power station, and although I visited in early summer, I'm sure it would make quite a sanctuary for humans in the winter with its  steamy heat and decidedly exotic flowers. 

.

This is the first time I've had access to the blog for nearly two weeks because I have not been at home and haven't been able to log in.  Thank you for the comments, which I've just enabled, and I will get back to "normal service" very soon.

11 comments:

  1. That's such a brilliant picture - I never thought I'd feel like using the word "sweet" in conjunction with a crocodile. Never say never...awwww, sweet xo

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes. Exotic creature perking herself up with gorgeous flower! Three-dimensional curving tail in motion shows her dignity.
    Have a nice weekend,
    Cosmos

    ReplyDelete
  3. Juxtaposition is right! We have alligators living in reconstituted waters near one of my walking parks. Crocs are an entirely different animal...love the flower garland croc crown...a unique and uncommon photograph!! Nice catch!Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my birch bark paper...yes, it really is quite red on the inside layer.

    Becky at becky-diaryofawalker.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for visiting my blog today. I"m fascinated to learn about this place in France. Wouldn't you just know that "French" crocodiles wear necklaces of flowers! :)
    V

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very weird juxtaposition all round, cos I actually find that flower a bit scarey too, in a kind of freaky way!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Actually it DID look a bit scary waddling along. Like some kind of a voodoo thing! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. What an amazing picture. A croc all decked out for Spring :-)

    Darla

    ReplyDelete
  8. The shadow upon the photo looks like a cross.
    The crocodile and the flowers are appreciating the moment when they happened to come across.
    Have a good weekend !

    ReplyDelete
  9. Funny!!!!! For me, the scary crocodile looks wearing a floral wig and trying to make her look sweet. I love texture of the creature and water in your photo very nuch. Yes, this place is the best choice to visit in winter!
    Jonny Woolf, have a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is quite the photo. I love to visit greenhouses and such in the winter to enjoy the warm and humid air.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wonderful shot, timing is perfect.

    ReplyDelete

Blog Archive