Revenge...

...of the weeds.

I am convinced a larger cosmic consciousness connects us than we want to believe. Having a superior-to-the-nerds giggle while quoting Darth Vader, “The Force is strong with this one…” lets us continue our denial that the world is out to get us. My too long neglected yard sought to prove it repeatedly as some exceptional weeds, accustomed to reprieves, rioted against the realization the execution of their death penalty loomed as one after another of their fellow annual sprouts had their roots ripped from the nurturing soil.

A few challenged my most muscular tugs. One in particular mounted supernatural resistance. No matter what grip I took or what angle I pulled, I detected no give. My frustration released adrenaline, building my strength.

And this is how I know there is a greater cosmic force.

The force WAS strong with this one.

It recognized my multiplying might and held on until the cosmic consciousness promised justice if it would let go. In the instant the clouds cleared and (I AM CERTAIN) the Google Earth satellite with its ultra-high definition camera passed overhead snapping away, and after giving no suggestion of surrender, the entire root system uniformly slipped the surly bonds of earth, rolling me over, butt-up for the thrill of some future Googler.

Images of people caught in candid - and most definitely embarrassing poses - in the photos taken by Google for their map/streetview programs periodically go viral when someone has a reason to look closely at the picture and then sees, and shares, the unfortunate spectacle with the rest of the Internet. The regularity of those viral images eliminates any surprise that I should expect that every awkward moment gets recorded.

That someday a picture of me, rolled onto my back with my butt up in the air will not surprise me. I will not even be embarrassed. Because…if you pay close enough attention, you will see that though the force of my tug flipped me over, clutched victoriously in my fist is the weed that thought it a humiliating photo trumped its trip to the mulch bin.

Remembering Spring

Late enough in fall that the tree had lost all its leaves, I noticed the bird's nest still perched securely in the limbs.

Where there was nothing spectacular about the nest in and of itself, it reminded me of spring and the energy that comes with the season. Though it was cool at the time of the photo, I looked around to see if there was any chance the fledglings that came from the nest were in the area. Of course they were not, but given our climate, I doubted they had gone too far - unless the cat that was trailing me had his way with them long ago.

Dutchman's Pipe

While walking around my parent's yard, I stumbled across a new flower I had never seen before.

I plucked the open blossom and my mother identified it as a Dutchman's pipe, a flower she remembered from her childhood. She had not seen the flower since her childhood, so was excited when she came across one at a flower show.

I did not reallize it on first seeing it, but after closer inspection, I realized that the flower was a carnivorous one. None of my lenses let me focus in close enought to truly show the fibers in the throat that would let a bug crawl down, but never let it out of the container in the back.

Prior to opening the bud appears as a liver-veined bladder on the vines.

Thought is it mid-fall, the plant is just now fully recovering from the drought.  There are a number of bulbs growing in one part of the vine. I am looking forward to seeing just what they turn into after blooming and whether catching a bug makes a difference in the post-bloom response.

 

I See You Seeing Me

While walking through my parent's property recently, I came across a game camera near a deer feeder along one of my regular walking trails. I could not resist, so I took a picture of the camera taking a picture of me.

 

I cannot wait for the hunter to come up on that picture! I have no idea who he is, but I want him to send me that picture when he comes across it.

 

I actually wish I had a game-cam next to his computer so I could capture HIS expression when he sees it.

 

After seeing some of the pictures from my brother's game-cam, I do know that many of the animals being photographed are well aware that something is going on in that clicking camouflaged box. Too many of them come up to it and lick it or stick their noses up for a good sniff. The hunter should not be too shocked then that a human would try something goofy.

 

Since the game-cams use a memory card. I should buy a discount one and fill it up with silly pictures around the city and replace it in his camera. He'd certainly wonder how the deer managed to do that grand excursion with his camera. (I'm laughing so hard at that idea that I fear I may get kicked out of the coffee shop - people are trying to study [or so they would have you believe by the annoyed glares in my direction].)

 

Spending a few hours in the deer blind made me remember how much I enjoy being out in the wild, seeing animals interacting with their natural environment. I need to build a cabin in the woods to escape the electronic world and enjoy a slower time now and again. The different pictures from my brother's own game-cam and the close-up encounters I had in the couple hours in the wild made me long again for that peaceful simplicity.

 

A game-cam I check (prank) from time to time would only fuel the desire to be in the woods more rather than quench it. Perhaps, I can find a way to have my place and the chance to be close to all the wildlife that abounds in the woods and play with the game camera at the same time. Time to put my imagination to work and see what I can figure out.

Where Water Was

Texas has spent most of the last decade in drought conditions. Intermittant floods have hidden the fact that despite a massive amount of rain in a short period, the drought has continued. Urban dwellers and those outside the heartland of the United States have a hard time imagining and understanding just how severe this drought has been.

  Limbs, lying on the ground like corpses on CSI, demonstrate the extent of damage to the trees of years of drought. Making my way around my parent's property, I came across countless dead trees. The agriculture department has estimated that 10% of the trees in Texas have died. In the forrested areas of my parent's ranch almost every post oak and pin oak have died. Live oaks that are hundreds of years old are shedding huge limbs - giving up much of the effort they have expended since Columbus landed on the continent.

My brother (and the rest of the family) used this flat-bottomed boat to navigate around the pond when it was at its peak. Now grass and weeds have grown up around it.

The nearest water, compared to where the boat sits, is over 100 yards away, near the treeline in the distance. One-hundred yards. For a pond! That's how bad the drought is.

Deer Season - Photography

The weekend before deer hunting season's open, I staked myself  in my favorite deer blind to see what kind of wildlife was around following the drought and years since there was heavy hunting on the property. My first venture out into the pasture brought me up on the largest buck I had ever encountered on the land. Unfortunately, he startled too quickly upon my spying him for me to get a picture.

After being staked in the blind for just a few minutes, I began to see deer to the left and right of me. They were coming from everywhere, but none were remaining still enough, close enough for me to get any decent photographs. I willed them closer and closer, but none would obey my subconsicious directions.

Finally a young buck with just three points began to approach the stand. Seemingly fearless, he posed for many photos despite the camera's beeps and clicks. Had I carried a gun with me instead of a camera, I would be eating well today. Of course, I would much rather have the rack of the three other bucks I saw that evening, this one would have provided some tender, flavorful venison.

Just as the buck came along, a rabbit bounded by the stand. I attempted to snap pictures, but as with the earlier deer, it did not come stay still long enough to get a clear shot.

I could not help but think, "Bambi and Thumper - together again."

The scene did not last long as one of my parent's dogs came running out of the woods, but it did give me the opportunity to have some quiet time with the wildlife I grew up stalking with my bow, gun, and camera.

Greenbelt Hike - Dandelions

Easter Sunday afternoon I took the opportunity to go for a hike on one of my favoirte trails, the Barton Creek Greenbelt. The weather presented such a perfect day and with the recent rains creating a nice flow in the creek, I  knew there would be hundreds of people on the trail and swimming in the creek at the various swimmin' holes.

I was not disappointed in the crowds; however, the majority left the trails vacant so I was able to stroll slowly and stop whenever I wanted to photograph any sight that caught my eye.

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]

The field of dandelions was one sight that caught my eye, with the fluffy seed pods ready to disperse and create havoc in some conscientious gardener's yard.[[posterous-content:pid___1]]I have rarely seen so many dandelions in one spot and enjoyed the view they created.[[posterous-content:pid___2]]This many dandelions, combined with the common wild onion which are also plentiful in the area, would make for a good salad. I took an afternoon hike, so I had already eaten, but if I had planned it carefully, I could have had my very own vegan picnic with the wild plants I found.[[posterous-content:pid___3]]Not since I moved away from the farm, have I thought so much about the presence of wild foods around us.[[posterous-content:pid___4]]And not only is it nice to know that the wild foods are around us, they make for some beautiful sights in our outdoor adventures.

March 2012 Mckinney Falls 3 - Waterworks

I have done my first two posts without focusing on the namesake of McKinney Falls. I posted pictures of flowers growing in the park, but had nothing to show of the waterworks that give the park it's name. Onion creek, when flowing, provides some spectacular water effects as it flows down the park lands from the upper falls to the lower falls.

One shot from the upper falls.

The water beginning its journey from the upper falls to the lower falls.

The water about halfway between the upper and lower falls - directly below the historic rock shelter long used by native Americans.

Water going over some of the falls.

One of my OMG photos with the  colors captured in the water and the appearance that it is coming directly at the camera.

 

Another photo that just awed me. I enjoy those rare pictures that wow me now and then.

The lower falls.

An amazing photo of water coming together in one of the chutes leading to a waterfall. I love the texture and colors captured.

March 2012 McKinney Falls 2

I was playing with depth of focus on these three shots. The subject is the same, but the focus gradually changes from the far to the near.

This photo has the farthest focus.

Followed by this photo with a middle focus.

Finally this photo with the closest focus.

The blue flowers appear to be some kind of wild iris which were common across the park.

I am absolutely just an amateur photographer, but I love when something I am trying works out the way I want it to.

March 2012 McKinney Falls Wild Food

In today's world of the grocery store, I find a secret thrill when I find just how much I can eat off the land when I go on one of my hikes. The hike at McKinney Falls was especially fruitful.

There were wild onions everywhere I looked. I'm not certain that I would want a diet consisting of all onion, but there were plenty to be found.

I did not pull the onion, somone had done that before I came along, still the wild onions are fairly substatial in size.

The prickly pear proved to be one of the most beneficial of the food plants I saw today with many putting on bulbs for the pear which is a useful fruit in many ways.

The prickly pear leaf also makes a good food. These future nopales are just taking off in the spring weather. While the pear is only ripe in season, the nopales are available year-round, though they are much better while young  and tender. 

Another common and edible food was the dandelion. While they are a nightmare in my garden, they are a delight in my salad.

March 2012 McKinney Falls 1

This post includes a few of my favorite shots from my hike at McKinney Falls State Park in Austin. It is only a few minutes from my house and just miles from downtown Austin, yet in that place one has no idea that an urban area is nearby.

I was thrilled at how this shot of wild onion blossoms turned out.

 And this shot of a bluebonnet just blew me away with its brilliance.

 These yellow flowers (probably a weed) were taller than me. They created for a nerve-wracking experience as I walked through them. I spent the day looking for snakes, but found none. I was certain as I made my way through these plants that I would surely hear the rattle of an unseen snake.

 I also enjoyed the bluebonnets against the stone jutting out from the ground.

Whenever I need a mental health break or a quiet time waliking away from the crowds, I make my way over to the park and spend a couple hours with my camera in the quiet.

Moonflower Season

One of my favorite parts of spring is when the moonflowers start to bloom. I always make my way out to the garden in the evening or early morning to see the blossoms as they close during the day.

One can see when I flower is about to open as it is emerging from the green sheeth below. It folds back up to this position during the day and will reopen for a couple nights.

And in the late evening, all night, and early morning the flower opens. These are large blooms about 4" across and the brilliant white at night attacts moths and other nighttime pollenators.

Without the pistil and stigma inthe middle, the flower could almost pass for a sand dollar with the various marking and veins.

Currently the plant is only putting out a flower every few days, but as it is a large established bush that survived the winter, within a few weeks it will be putting on as many as forty blooms a night, creating a canopy of white covering the entire bush.

A Little Bit of History

In order to force myself away from the busyness of work lately, I went to San Antonio for a couple days at the start of spring break to see some friends, eat out, and take in a bit of Texas history. It has been years since I toured the San Antonio missions, so with the perfect weather, I spent an afternoon leisurely strolling through and photographing the (non- Alamo) missions.

 With the beautiful weather and perfect skies, the crosses on the top of the churches on the mission grounds stood out so perfectly, it was impossible not to know one was in a sacred spot.

Over one of the old water wells was an elaborate piece of iron-work. I loved the workman marks in the metal.

 The walls still stand at Mision San Jose with the gun and cannon turrets. Down near the bottom you can see the hole through which a cannon would be fired to defend the mission. Above the cannon area hangs a shelf for gunners to shoot out with the muskets. The rifle holes are too small to be seen from the distance.

 The view out of the turret through the cannon hole. I would be the clumsy gunner who did not have the cannon pointed just right.

 The absolutely stunning Rose Window. It has to be seen to be appreciated. Photos cannot show the elaborate sculpture framing it.

The chapel at Mission Espada remains in use today with a private residence connected to it as does Mission San Juan. 

 

Water Death

While observing the life around the pond, I noticed too, how precious life was by the creatures that lost their life there.

Some moths landed too close to the water.

Some frogs come out of the water to land on fire ants and were soon devoured.

You cannot see the frog because so many ants are covering it. I had to poke it with a stick to see what they were eating.

Some frogs were just dead - perhaps after trying to catch a bee instead of a fly.

And some flies were just dead because they landed on my leg and I swatted them. I do not have any pictures because there was not anything left to show of them.

The glories of life in its diversity was only made more valuable by the juxtaposition of death side-by-side.

I just have to be still and around me, I will see the entirety of the circle of life.

Being Still

This morning I went down to my parents’ pond - or what’s left of it - and took the time to really look. The Nature Channel on television has infinite documentaries on watering holes and the animals that use them, but I had never seen one on insects. 

I had never taken the time to look for them either.

This morning, the entire remnant of the pond was abuzz with various bugs that came for sustenance or supplies. Bees, wasps, and flies worked in abundance around the limited water that was left. Some bees and wasps gathered water while others gathered together bits of mud for their nest.

All it took was me being still for a little while.

Being still and watching what is happening. Listening for the quiet sounds. Stillness and listening. Two qualities we often overlook in this mad world as we try to keep up with all that is happening around us.

Being still I saw wild bugs hovering above the mud.

I do not believe I have ever taken a better picture. Even the newborn fawn does not compare to the hovering bug with its wing caught mid-stoke.

Being still, I saw a variety of moths landing on the mud.

Being still, I saw a red wasp land on the water and be blown across on the wind as the wasp gathered water for building it's paper nest.

Being still, I saw an amazing white-faced beetle crawling around the mud.

Being still, I saw bugs crawling out of the water and across the mud.

Being still, I saw life happening around me that I had never noticed before. No matter what I have going on in my life, I must take the time to stop, pause, and notice what is really happening around me that under other circumstances I would charge right past.

Being still, I must have patience and see the beauty that surrounds me.