A Day Full of Backyard Critters
Posted: May 13, 2024 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Gulf Coast gardening, nature photography, Hummingbird, Box Turtles, Brown Anole, backkyard critters 7 Comments
I came upon my turtle friend on my morning round through the yard. We had a nice little chat and the turtle is comfortable enough with me that it doesn’t retreat into its shell.
The hummingbird was taking turns feeding from the sugar water and flowers.
A brown Cuban anole enjoyed the day sunning on some yard art.
The best part of the day came during my afternoon tour of the yard. I found a baby box turtle scurrying away from me.
I could not resist picking up the little cutie and getting some photos wondering if my turtle friend could be its mother.
As much as I wanted to keep the baby turtle, I knew it would be better to let it go. I put it back where I found it and prayed that the baby turtle would be safe in this treacherous world.
Pretty and Pink
Posted: March 18, 2024 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Azaleas, Chinese Fringe Tree, Formosa Azaleas, Gulf Coast gardening, Loropetalum, nature photography, Pipe-vine Swallowtail, Southern Gardening 20 Comments
I was amazed that my Azaleas were so full of flowers this year. They have not looked well most of the year and we had water restrictions over the summer. Of course, they are not as nice as my six-foot-tall ones that died.
Every flower bud opened making the shrub lush with pink flowers.
I had been watching this Pipe-Vine Swallowtail butterfly in the backyard looking for a flower(they all froze) to feed on. It took a couple of passes by the sugar feeder, but it did not know how to use it. I was happy to see it feeding on the Azales.
Many years ago I had a Loropetalum struggling in the backyard. It had some life left, so I planted it in the front with a little prayer. It ended up living and growing 10 feet tall. Normally, they are trimmed to 4 feet and kept bushy.
The Loropetalum is very graceful with fluffy pink flowers and is also known as the Chinese Fringe Flower.
Heading On Up
Posted: March 11, 2024 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Cope's Grey Frog, My Kitchen Window, nature photography 14 Comments
This Tree Frog is just so cute that I had to do another post about it. I caught it hanging on to a plant in my chiminea.
I believe it is a Cope’s Gray Frog although it could be a Gray Frog as they are both very similar. The Tree Frog can be found from Virginia to Eastern Texas and lives in woodlands.
I kept an eye on the Tree Frog and was able to photograph it making its way up the vine to the top of the pot.
The next time I went to look for it the little frog was hanging onto the brick wall.
The frog finally made it to the lower roof went on its way and disappeared.
Turtle Burmation
Posted: February 26, 2024 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Backyard Critters, nature photography, Southern Gardening 15 Comments
While working on my rose bush I noticed a muddy rock. Not remembering why I put it there I went to check it out.
The rock was a box turtle that may be coming out of brumation or hibernation.
Maybe not happy that I disturbed it, the turtle moved a couple of feet to a sunny location.
As the day ended I found the sleepy turtle had crawled back under the pine needles for the night.
The weather was nice enough to fire up the grill for supper. As the cover was removed I found another sleepy creature. Of course, the little tree frog had to be removed to a safe location. The weather is warming this week, the days are lengthening and insects are hatching it’s time for my garden friends to come out of their winter sleep.
Not a Leaf
Posted: February 19, 2024 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Luna Moth, nature photography 14 Comments
It appeared the cannas made a very unusual leaf that didn’t look quite right. The odd leaf was the same color green and outlined in red.
A closer inspection revealed it was a Luna Moth.
The Luna Moth is such a beautiful creature and this one is perfect. It may have hatched recently. Sadly, mature adults won’t live long and do not eat. Their goal is to reproduce. Those golden antennae detect scent and a male can find a female from six miles away. Spotting a Luna Moth signifies new beginnings. Hmmm…
A Special Day
Posted: December 31, 2023 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: nature photography 15 Comments***************************************************************************************************
Happy 123123 !
See you next year.
This is a bit of a riddle and the clue is day.
Gator Huntin’
Posted: November 27, 2023 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: alligators, Brazos Bend State Park, nature photography, Nutria, Spanish Moss 26 Comments
It was the perfect day to hunt for alligators, the sky was blue and the air was cool. We were greeted at Brazos Bend State Park by mature trees dripping in Spanish Moss.
First one needs to study the alligator etiquette guide.
There were many warnings to keep your dogs away from the gators, but no notices for small children. Photos may need to be enlarged to find the gators and other critters.
The first alligator we spotted was sunning near a large patch of yellow flowers, which may be Spanish Needles. The flowers were so prolific that their reflection turned the water yellow.
An egret was fishing nearby.
Another critter that shares the park is a Nutria. It is a large rodent that kind of looks like a beaver. It was brought to the United States in 1889 from South America for its fur. The fur market collapsed in 1940 and the animals were released becoming an invasive species. They destroy native aquatic vegetation, crops, and wetland areas. But, they do make a good meal for gators.
These waterfowl were not bothered by the alligator swimming by. A ranger once told me the birds knew when the alligators were feeding.
The lake was full of green algae. Can you find all the alligators?
I swear I had seen this big old gator over the years and another visitor verified that the gator was always in its special spot.
We spotted around 20 alligators on our hunt and had a great day out in nature.
Backyard Wildlife
Posted: November 20, 2023 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: anole, Backyard Critters, Gulf Fritillary Butterfly, nature photography, Southern Leopard Frog 19 Comments
I had a very unusual interaction with an Anole. I was wearing my gardening gloves digging up some plants to move, when I felt what I thought was a thorn in my glove. I pulled the glove off and there was an Anole biting my skin. I have so many questions. Was the lizard in my glove when I put it on? Why didn’t I feel it? Could it have gotten into my tight glove while gardening? I keep my gloves hanging up, but I guess from now on I will shake them before I put them on.
After the Anole incident, I came across my frog friend staying very still while I was digging around it.
The sugar water feeder was busy with a bee and a butterfly. Occasionally, a butterfly will figure out how to get the sugar.
Gulf Fritillary Butterflies were enjoying the sunny day and I managed to get some decent photos.
Around the Garden
Posted: October 2, 2023 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Gulf Coast gardening, Hummingbird, nature photography, Southern Leopard Frog, Turks cap 11 Comments
Another heat thriver that I didn’t put in my last post is Turk’s Cap, which is prolifically blooming and has spread a bit.
A few short showers stimulated mushrooms to pop up.
I never paid much attention to this oak tree, but I happened to brush against a branch and found it loaded with acorns. There are going to be some very happy squirrels.
A Southern Leopard Frog parked on my back porch plant stand for a spell.
The hummingbirds are still hanging out. I thought they would be heading further south by now, but maybe the heat is keeping them here. The temperatures are still in the 90s.
Hummingbird Wars
Posted: September 18, 2023 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Hamelia paten, Hummeringbird Bush, My Kitchen Window, nature photography, Ruby Throated Hummingbird, Southern Gardening 14 Comments
The Hummingbird Wars have begun with 5 or 6 arrivals stopping by to fuel up for the trip south. Feeders are hung and the Hummingbird Bush, Hamelia paten, is blooming with plenty of food for all. And yet the dueling never ends. Bodies clash, screams are heard, and the tiny birds hit the ground.
This handsome fellow took a few seconds pause to strike some poses for the camera before returning to the chase.
The Hummingbirds set up guard posts on each of the four feeders I put out. One bird would not leave its position during a thunderstorm. The tiny bird did take advantage of the rain spreading its wings to get a good shower. The hummer only left to chase another hummingbird. It is hard to tell in the photo that it is raining, but there is a raindrop on the tip of the cutout hummer. Enlarge the image to see a happy hummingbird enjoying the rain.
Automatic Gardening & Real Gluten Free Food 