While cruising along at 60mph toward the White Mountains, I noticed an indistinct bright shape on a rock 20 feet off the road. Driving another couple miles, I finally found a safe place to turn around. Upon returning, I found this stunning Eastern Collared Lizard completely adorned in his finest courtship attire. Since living here, I’ve met very few of these brilliant lizards, and they have always been evasive, dashing for cover at the first sign of me. As I approached, this fellow, however, actually moved a few feet away to a much more exposed rock surrounded by wildflowers. He posed without a care in the world as cars zipped by and I crept within a foot, snapping pictures. Yet another magical nature experience!