American Smoketree, (Cotinus obovatus)

American Smoketree, (Cotinus obovatus),  There are not many trees native to Central Texas that have great fall color but one of the best is the American Smoketree.  This small tree can be found in a few isolated locations in the southern half of the Texas Hill Country.

American Smoketree, (Cotinus obovatus),  I wonder why Texans would settle for planting Chinese Photinia or Japanese Ligustrum when this local hero goes unheralded, unhonored and unsung.

American Smoketree, (Cotinus obovatus)

American Smoketree, (Cotinus obovatus)

American Smoketree, (Cotinus obovatus)

Curse of the Black Monarch

An unusual black phase Monarch, (Danaus plexippus)

An unusual black phase Monarch, (Danaus plexippus)

Here is a more typical looking Monarch for comparison purposes.

Fiery Skipper, (Hylephila phyleus)

Garden vegetables

Fruits ripening in the garden.

Beware the Butterfly Graveyard

When I came across this butterfly graveyard it took me a while to understand just what was happening at this particular location, however in the cholla above, I soon located a rather happy and fat praying mantis that had acquired a rather prime fishing location from which to catch visiting butterflies.

Cylindropuntia bigelovii, Teddy bear cholla

Mexican Fire Barrel Cactus, Ferocactus pilosus

Dragonfly

Blue Dasher dragonfly, Pachydiplax longipennis,  http://azdragonfly.org/species/blue-dasher

Blue Dasher dragonfly, Pachydiplax longipennis

This is a somewhat rare (to Central Texas) yellow rain lily,  Rio Grande Copper-lily, Habranthus tubispathus.  I found this flower poking up in a grass lawn (soon to be mowed) in my neighborhood.

Barbados Cherry, Malpighia glabra - What this Texas native lacks in flower size it more than makes up in fragrance.

Tarantula Hawk and a Great Spreadwing

Tarantula hawk - What is Scarier than a Tarantula?

Great Spreadwing, Archilestes grandis

Great Spreadwing, Archilestes grandis

Great Spreadwing, Archilestes grandis

Fall Blooms, I neglected to post earlier

Ariocarpus fissuratus

Ariocarpus fissuratus

Even ocotillos have fall colors.

Mountain Sage - Salvia regla, from the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park. 

Mountain Sage - Salvia regla

Stained Glass Wings

Some of my favorite butterfly pictures are where the subject is backlit and the butterfly wings have a glowing effect.

Blurry Elf in early Spring

I wish I had done a better job with the focus but I believe this to be Henry's Elfin butterfly (Callophrys henrici).

Thelocactus macdowellii

Thelocactus macdowellii

Escobaria runyonii 

Surviving Big Bend State Park 2

Big Bend State Park - After defying death in a 48 hour ill advised, ill equipped, ramble up and over many rock falls, washouts and small trees alone in a small family vehicle across one of the most remote and abandoned places on earth, we paused to observe the obstacles we had overcome and to thank the Lord for safe passage.

During this epic multi-day 4x4 trip, I hardly slept, spoke very little and almost never laughed, I realized fairly early on the danger I had brought my young family into. - Big Bend State Park, nothing like the other state parks you know.

Javelina - Pecari tajacu - About 45 pounds and are generally not hostile to humans but have been known to attack when they feel threatened.

My eyes and the javelina meet and he considers his options.