Red-Tailed Hawk

I think this is a Red-Tailed Hawk but the bird was much bigger than hawks I typically see around our neighborhood.

More butterfly wings in back-light

Gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)

Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus)

Butterflies in Backlight

 A Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), stops to fuel up on, arguably its most preferred nectar source, Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum).



Gulf fritillary, (Agraulis vanillae) - In the Fall, heading to the Rio Grande Valley for the winter.

Desert Blues

 There is a certain shade of turquoise that seems to be a favorite for desert plants.  I am guessing the blue color keeps the plants from getting too much sun, I wonder if clothes made of this color would be cooler or if cars and houses painted this color would have less heat gain from the sun.

Agave neomexicana

Foreground - Liatris mucronata (Texas Blazing Star),
Background - Nolina matapensis (Sonoran Nolina)



Euphorbia rigida (Gopher plant)

Texas vs Succulents

Texas (Central Texas at least) is not so nurturing of all succulents.  Here is an example of three species that can only survive in Texas given a protected environment in the shade.   Echeveria runyonii - top, Sempervivum ‘Emerald Empress’ - right, Bitter Root Lewisia rediviva- bottom.  While they may thrive in the winter time here, they die in the summer if not hidden away from the sun and watered consistently.  I would guess its not the intensity of the sun that kills them but rather the length of the exposure and consistency of the heat.

Ferocactus gracilis - Fire Barrel Cactus - Unfortunately Texas is also tough on the Fire Barrel, the winter cold (less than 20 degrees) will mark the ridges as frost will turn the ridges brown and the red of the spines fades rapidly perhaps because of alternating heat, cold and humidity.





Cousins visit the cactus garden

Cinnamon Bunny Ears (Opuntia microdasys subsp. Rufida), this cactus is charming from a distance but working in close proximity to it you inevitably bump into the "cinnamon" which will then haunt you like fine fiber glass and is easily transferred from gloves or shirt sleeve weeks later to continue to irritate.

Cleome

Cleome aka Polanisia dodecandra grows well in the cactus garden (here looking like a small tree with white flowers).  This Texas native has interesting flowers that seem to be enjoyed by butterflies and hummingbirds.  It typically grows along sandy creeks in Llano County where I collect sand.

Flowering Senna, Cassia corymbosa

Echeveria runyonii

Thelocactus bicolor

Astrophytum asterias