Merry Christmas Wishes

We'll be leaving soon to visit family for Christmas. I can't promise I'll be able to post while we're traveling, so I want to take time now to wish you all a merry Christmas.

Until next time...may your days be merry and bright!

December Wildflowers

You know me...I can't pass by a pretty flower without snapping a picture. I photographed these Indian blanket blossoms along the nature path across from the LCRA Nature Center in Matagorda. And yes, they really are blooming in December.

Smiling Down a Dirt Road

We went for a drive down Old Gulf Road in Matagorda, Texas, last week. 

It starts out paved, but changes to dirt soon after you cross the bridge.

I enjoyed the scenery—open fields and blue sky.

I kept a watch out for flowers and found some tiny yellow ones growing along the fencerow...

and an occasional pop of color from lantana blossoms. It was also on this road where I found the Cherokee rose.

As I took my flower pictures, I attracted the attention of one particular cow in the field. The rest of the herd ignored me completely, but this cow made sure to keep an eye on me the whole time.

It was these simple sights that had me smiling as we drove down a dirt road.

Cherokee Rose

I saw a pretty rose growing wild along the side of the road. Of course, I stopped to take some photos, but it wasn't until later that I learned about the Legend of the Cherokee Rose.

Cherokee tradition associates this rose with the Trail of Tears. Each part of the flower has a special meaning. 



The white petals represent the tears cried by the Cherokee mothers for their children on the long, hard journey.

The seven leaves on each stem symbolize the seven Cherokee clans.

And, the gold center stands for the gold taken from the Cherokee people.

In the legend, this beautiful flower became a source of hope, comfort, and strength. I will remember that whenever I see it blooming along the roadside.

Happiness Is...

sunshine on a Saturday morning...

at Jetty Park in Matagorda...

taking photos of random things...

with no real plan in mind...

just snapping away...

observing nature...

and soaking in the sunshine.

Flowers in 3-5 Weeks

My daughter, Robyn, gave me a paperwhite bulb kit as a gift. She said it's because she's not always here to give me flowers. She knows me well!

This is what was in the Trader Joe's kit:

One narcissus bulb, one compressed pellet of potting mix, a pretty ceramic pot, and planting instructions.

I was doubtful that one pellet would expand enough to plant the bulb in, but it did. When fluffed up, the potting mix filled the pot about a third of the way. 

I pressed the bulb into the potting mix, leaving the top portion exposed. As you can see this bulb had already begun to sprout before it was planted. Now all there is to do is place the pot in a sunny, warm location (I'm thinking the kitchen windowsill), keep the soil moist, and wait—flowers in 3-5 weeks.

I'll keep you posted.

The Power of Flowers

The roses in the garden are still blooming. The other day I cut three red blossoms and some white mistflower for filler...

and casually arranged the pretty flowers in an old green jar I bought at an antique store several years ago. (If anyone remembers what product came in this jar, I'd love to know.)  

The roses were still moist with dew and the fragrant mistflower smelled just like honey. 

I placed them on the coffee table and before long the whole living room was filled with their sweet fragrance...and I smiled.

More Beautiful Butterflies in the Garden

Monarchs aren't the only butterflies in the our garden. 

Queen Butterfly

The equally beautiful Queen Butterfly has made an appearance...

Gulf Fritillary, Wings Closed

as well as the Gulf Fritillary. We always seem to have lots of these.

Gulf Fritillary, Wings Open

Here's a photo of a Gulf Fritillary with its wings open, so you can compare it to...

Variegated Fritillary

this Variegated Fritillary. We are seeing more and more of these this year.

There are so many pretty butterflies in God's creation! 

Monarch Butterflies Are Here in Record Numbers

With so many monarch butterflies in our yard (50 or more), it's a shame we aren't tagging for Monarch Watch this year like we have done in the past.

I bet we could capture several butterflies at a time with just one swoosh of the net.

Not all monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico though, and since these have been hanging around for almost a week, I doubt they are going anywhere.

I've read reports that the main migratory wave of monarchs has already crossed the border and will soon arrive at the wintering grounds.

I've also read that it's been a good year for monarchs, with an increase in population instead of a decline. It's certainly true for us. We've never had this many monarchs in our garden before, and that's something to smile about!

Read more about 2015 Monarch Butterfly Migration at Journey North.

Blue Mistflower Gone Wild

The first time I saw Blue Mistflower at Seabourne Creek Butterfly Garden three years ago, I knew I liked it. I typically like any blue flower, and the fuzzy looking blossoms of this plant were by far the most popular bloom in the garden among the butterflies. I had to have one.

As soon as we found one for sale, we bought it and added it to our newly planted butterfly garden at home. It's a fall bloomer and has a sweet, pleasant fragrance. I was so happy!

But, here's what I didn't know about this plant: when a gardener (me) neglects gardening duties, Blue Mistflower becomes a beast.

The massive takeover happened sometime early in the summer and I let it be. Poor butterfly garden—so overgrown—later—I'll deal with you later—that's what I kept telling myself.

And, I will...but not right now. 

Because you see, it's in full bloom and I think every butterfly in the neighborhood is hanging out in our garden!

Plant Blue Mistflower if you dare. Its ability to attract butterflies like a magnet may just outweigh its wild ways. 

Brazos Bend Nature Walk | The End of the Trail

The abundance of wildlife at Brazos Bend State Park attracts nature lovers and photographers...

with serious lenses! I can only imagine the detail that you can get with such a high power zoom...imagine and dream.

I stepped over when this photographer was finished to see what she was shooting. 

It was a heron perched in a dead tree. This was the best I could do--lens zoomed all the way out--no crop--more of a scenic shot, than a bird photo.

A very brief drizzle of rain convinced John and I that it was time to head back. We had gone as far as the observation tower, just on the edge of 40 Acre Lake.

Retracing our steps down the Spillway Trail, I once again admired the swamp sunflowers against a backdrop of cattails.

We rejoined Elm Lake Trail where we left off and finished the loop around the lake...

stopping to watch a flock of whistling ducks...

and to photograph the only turtle we saw all day.

The trail ends back at the recreation area in a grove of mature trees thickly draped in Spanish moss.

A dead tree nearby in silhouette against a drab sky gave off a spooky vibe that is entirely appropriate for this Halloween weekend.

Brazos Bend State Park is a great place to get up close and personal with nature. We had a lot of fun and plan to go back soon.

I hope you are able to get out and enjoy a nature walk in your area. I'd love to see your pictures!

Bonus Snap:

An armadillo we saw in the campground on our way out...a strange and weird looking creature...perfectly creepy for Halloween.

Brazos Bend Nature Walk | Spillway Trail

Continuing our nature walk, John and I left the Elm Lake Loop Trail and headed to 40 Acre Lake by way of the Spillway Trail.

Do you see what we saw in the water?

Yes, it's another large gator! His head is exposed and you can see his body just below the surface. The trail is much higher than the water level here, so I felt safe to take all the pictures I wanted.

The trees along the spillway create a perfect leafy arch over the trail. It was a pleasant walk through the woods.

The Brazos River flooded earlier this year and the park was closed for a time until the water receded. See how the lower portion of these tree trunks are dark? I'm guessing that's from the high water.

And then the scenery changes--out of the swampy woods and onto the open plain. 

A golden blanket of swamp sunflowers covered the field nearly as far as my eye could see. It was impressive!

The closer we got to 40 Acre Lake, the more alligators we saw. In one small area there were at least 20. 

That was also impressive, but...

I like flowers better...so no more pictures of the alligators.

To be continued...

Brazos Bend Nature Walk | Plants and Flowers

John and I continued our nature walk on Elm Lake Trail at Brazos Bend State Park, enjoying the sights and taking photos. While John photographed birds and alligators, I began to focus my camera on plants and flowers.

The "green scum" on the surface of the water is actually tiny free-floating aquatic plants called duckweed. Elm Lake is covered in it.

I was fascinated by the large leaves of the American lotus, a plant that is often confused with water lilies. 

It is not in bloom right now, but seed pods are everywhere. The photo above shows a fresh pod filled with seeds.

But, most of the seed pods I saw had already gone by and were drooping downward, looking like little shower heads or decorative landscape lights. 

The water hyacinth was blooming and was so pretty! But don't be fooled by its good looks. Its prolific and aggressive nature can quickly clog waterways. To keep it under control, Texas has made it illegal to transport this plant. 

This bright yellow flower was striking. I thought it resembled coreopsis, but I wasn't sure what it was. When I got home, I identified it as swamp sunflower from this site. It looked like an excellent source of nectar for this busy bee.

Patches of asters were bright spots on a cloudy day...

as were these happy flowers known as creeping spot-flower.

I hope you enjoyed this part of our nature walk. There are still a few more photos to share.

To be continued...