Horse crippler

Echinocactus texensis, Horse crippler

Red Admiral

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) - Years ago I discovered that these butterflies will chase a red object in flight.  I would swing a red yo-yo in a circle and after a few turns would have 3 to 4 butterflies in the area following it around and around.

Only after careful inspection can you see that the Red Admiral also has some blue coloration on the bottom side of both the forewing and hindwing.

Trichocereus Grandiflorus

Trichocereus Grandiflorus - Torch Cactus

Trichocereus Grandiflorus - Torch Cactus

Trichocereus Grandiflorus - Torch Cactus

Golden columbine

Aquilegia chrysantha, Golden columbine

 Dahlia hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus poselgeri

Echinocereus bristolii

Echinocereus bristolii

Echinocereus bristolii (center) and Echinopsis ancistrophora 'arachnacantha' in red on the left.

Echinocereus bristolii

Rough-leaf Dogwood (Cornus drummondii)

Rough-leaf Dogwood (Cornus drummondii)

Although the Rough-leaf Dogwood isn't as stately and stunningly beautiful as it's East Texas cousin the Flowering Dogwood, it makes up for it with its unique ability to attract butterflies and other interesting insects, to a broad landing pad that's the perfect spot for viewing the airborne visitors.

The Eight-spotted Forester, Alypia octomaculata, besides being markedly handsome, is said to be one of the most important pollinators of the Texas Madrone 

Missing a hindwing?  No problem.

Cotinis nitida, commonly known as the Green June beetle.  I would say this one is more of a Blue Green June beetle, a striking jewel of a bug (if that is a thing).

This fuzzy little rust colored hairstreak is hard for me to identify.  I guess it must be a Juniper Hairstreak but it lacks many of the defining characteristics that I typically see.

Here is another Green June beetle sporting more typical hues.

Echinopsis hybrid 'CASSANDRA'

Echinopsis hybrid 'CASSANDRA' - This cactus flower blooms at night and fades quickly in the early morning,  I placed my shoe in the picture to demonstrate the huge scale, easily the largest cactus flower I have seen in person.

The evening before the 'CASSANDRA' bloom.

The rosette form of the flower is echoed in the background by the rosette of the Phoenix canariensis palm tree.