Radically Retired

Category: Nature

  • Sneaking Up …

    Sneaking Up …

    Spring weather in deep south Texas basically happens all winter long.

    One hint that spring is sneaking up on us here is the flush of white blossoms on our back yard orange tree.

    Soon, we’ll be heading back to our home in Canada, where spring will become glaringly apparent by about mid April to early May.

    There will likely still be snow when we arrive home in a couple of weeks. The nice thing about driving home vs flying is that we have time to acclimatize on the way north.

    Jumping (via a flight) from the current mid 30° C (mid 90° F) temperatures in South Texas to our near or below freezing temps at home in Saskatchewan, Canada, would be too much of a shock to our systems.

  • A Watchful Eye

    A Watchful Eye

    I recall a nature photography class where the instructor (a professional photographer) said, when photographing birds, the key is to get a good shot of the eye and to be sure that the eye is at a junction of two grid lines. He said that this would give the most impact and that if that junction wasn’t set exactly in the photo, a post-processing crop could be done to make that happen.

    I was fortunate that this pelican rested perfectly still on the pier railing, so that I could get close enough to set up the shot.

  • “I Can’t Believe You Just Did That!”

    “I Can’t Believe You Just Did That!”

    Some photos just beg to be captioned.

    What would yours be for this one?

  • Great Gentleness

    Great Gentleness

    Most people with whom I have discussed pigeons hold them in low esteem. I have history with pigeons, or perhaps I would not even have noticed the small creature. The great gentleness I have found seems to have escaped most people’s notice. Of course, like most humans, I did not recognize their true worth at all until I got to know one very well.”
    ― Kathleen Knight, Sanctuary – Exploring the Magical World of Birds

  • Vitality

    Vitality

    vi·tal·i·ty

    the state of being strong and active

    Every morning on my walks here in our South Texas park, I pass this poinsettia plant.

    Because it’s so full and lush and perfect, I wondered if it’s real.

    A few days ago I checked and sure enough, it’s as real as you and I.

    To see the bracts still as red at the end of February as they were at Christmas time made me think of the word vitality.

    1. Salty Squadron

      Salty Squadron

      After seeing a group of 15 Javelinas coming up from salt flats near here (another post coming about the flats), I learned that a group of these characters that look like wild pigs, but are another species altogether, is called a squadron.

    2. Palms Unlimited

      Palms Unlimited

      Just when I thought I must have seen every type of palm tree known to man, what should appear, but a Ponytail Palm?

      I decided to check with Professor Google, and apparently, there are over 2600 species of palm trees, so no, I’ve definitely not seen them all, nor will I live long enough to do so.

    3. Roses in January

      Roses in January

      While friends and family at home in southern Saskatchewan, Canada are battling strong winds, icy roads, and hazardous driving and outdoor walking conditions, I feel very blessed to be able to walk outside our front door door here in south Texas to practice my floral photography on our neighbour’s repeat blooming climbing rose.

    4. Poser

      Poser

      Anacahuita, aka Mexican Olive or Texas Olive is an ornamental shrub native to this area of Texas.

      Although the fruit is inedible, the ruffled flowers are showy and the shrub needs very little moisture to survive and stay healthy.

    5. A Lucky Catch

      A Lucky Catch

      A few days ago, as a part of our usual pre-Christmas activities, hubs and I headed to South Padre Island.

      One of our favourite activities while there, is to sit and watch the seagulls and pelicans as they scavenge and fish over the deep blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

      The seagulls were especially plentiful, the day was windy, and I was trying to catch a shot of even one gull soaring on the wind current above us.

      I had no luck with my plan, but was completely shocked and amazed when we arrived home and I reviewed my photos to see this.

      The direction of the wings is something I’d never seen before, so to say I’m well-pleased with this accidental shot is an understatement.