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.
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.
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.
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.
For two days last week, Aurora was extremely strong and extended as far south as central Texas (almost four hundred miles north of us here in the RGV)
One phenomenon that can accompany extreme solar storms, is known as STEVE – a term coined in 2016 in Alberta Canada (our neighbouring province).
STEVE is an acronym for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement and usually appears as a diagonal thin band of purple with sometimes green accompaniment across the night sky on a night when Miss Aurora is showing off farther north.
I like to think “Big Steve” visited us last week.
My nephew (a geologist) passed my photo along to his friend (a geo-scientist) who concurred that this was indeed STEVE.
Below are photos of Aurora (from both nights) that our grandson sent to us from his home in central Saskatchewan, Canada.
The first three were Tuesday night and the last three were from Wednesday night.
I’m so pleased, that at age 19, he appreciates nature as much as he does.
This past summer saw an unusual amount of rain here in the Rio Grande Valley.
As a result, some plants are confused as to when to bloom.
This hedgehog cactus is an example.
Whereas it usually would bloom in the spring here (March and April), it was in full bloom last week.
The Saguaro National Park just out of Tucson is an incredible place to see.
During our visit, we learned that it can take a Saguaro Cactus up to 100 years to grow the “arms” that we’ve come to recognize from old western movies. Those arms are needed to store extra water for the cactus, which can reach heights of 50 feet and weigh 6 or more tons.
One truly has to experience it to get the full and awe-inspiring effect of a forest of these giant old fellas, extending as far as the eye can see.
Both of my parents were avid “at home” bird watchers, and had many feeders around our yard. They loved to share with us kids, what they learned through this hobby, so I grew up loving and appreciating birds.
A part of the enjoyment of wintering in South Texas is the new varieties of birds we get to experience there.
I was fortunate to catch this shot of a Great Kiskadee at one of the many birding locations in the RGV, and was pleased that I also caught a decent reflection.
There are a few places here in our province where Canada Geese have moved in and taken over. One place is the beautiful Wascana Park in our capital city, Regina. Another is a beach at Kenosee lake, a popular summer destination here in the southern part of Saskatchewan.
Don’t get me wrong – I love everything nature related, including these magnificent birds … I’m just not all that fond of trying to avoid their droppings on the walking paths and beaches.
Our prairie city seemed to be spared … until recently.
On a recent walk alongside the river, I was greeted by this squad and they were so bold that they barely moved as I walked by. It was like they were daring me to make a move.
The only move I dared make was to raise my phone camera to get a couple of shots, and then move along as quickly as possible.
These big birds can be aggressive, and I wasn’t eager to tangle with their mob.
To the naked eye, the tops of most mushrooms look smooth.
A macro lens says otherwise.
As with many things (and people) … we need to look closely and beyond the surface if we want to see what’s really there, don’t we?
Radically Retired 