This tough, water-loving little plant is the bane of anyone who desires a perfect lawn down here along the Texas Coastal Bend. There are roughly 100 species of Hydrocotyles around the world, two of which are found in this area. At least the common name here is a bit of an inflation, elsewhere, they are known as pennywort.
The Common Buckeye Butterfly (Junonia coenia) is aptly named. Not only do the large eyespots look like deer eyes but it is very a common resident in the southeastern U.S. They are regularly found in urban areas, thriving in parks and weedy lots. As spring warms, some of the young butterflies will make their way north, spreading as far as Canada. Like many retirees, at the first hint of winter weather they will head south. The worn adult above could have been a local butterfly or a migrant. Or, to use the local term for a snowbird, a Winter Texan.
I was fortunate to recently attend the Luck Reunion held at Willie Nelson’s ranch outside of Austin. The music festival derives its moniker from his fortuitously-named ranch. At first glance, the appellation seems appropriate considering Willie’s long and tumultuous career. But when I mull it over, I really think a better epithet would be Perseverance. During his 86 years, there were a multitude of setbacks:
Instead of giving up, Willie persistently pursued his passion; music. Over his 75 year career 46 of his albums charted in the top ten, he co-authored several books, and acted in 30 films. Oh, and remember that trouble with the IRS? While working to resolve his debt, Willie continued his involvement with Farm Aid (a benefit concert series he founded with John Mellencamp and Neil Young).
I’m not claiming Willie is a hero (though his album Heroes is fantastic, you should check it out) but I do admire how hard he worked to follow his passion. His life brings to mind the title of a book by Pema Chödrön, “Fail, Fail again, Fail better.” I would call it moxie or grit or even perseverance. But it damn sure wasn’t luck.
I am no fan of eating oysters but I am now a fan of the Fulton Oysterfest! The party kicked off with a carnival, live music, and foggy fireworks on Thursday evening. Every day was jam-packed with performances and events (like oyster eating and shucking contests).
This was the 40th year for the event which raises money for the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department. My favorite part was watching my friends of the band Whiskey Bent take the stage on Sunday afternoon.
I didn’t have much time to rest as I was on the road by noon on Monday. A month ago I learned that the Zac Brown Band was playing at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and I jumped at the chance to see them. My concert ticket included admission to the rodeo so I went early to check out the scene.
I grew up with horses and helped show Quarter Horses as a teenager, so it was a trip down memory lane. The band rode the stage as it was wheeled out to the center of the arena after the last event. The lights went down and the sound went up. I had heard they put on a good show and they did not disappoint. It was a rowdy, toe-tapping evening!
I wrapped up my musical week by attending the Luck Reunion, a festival held at Willie Nelson’s ranch outside of Austin. To keep it intimate they only sell 2,000 tickets which they make available by a series of lotteries. I stumbled upon a link from Southwest Airlines three weeks ago and was over the moon to get a ticket. I knew it would be a lot of events in one week but when you get a chance to hang out at Willie Nelson’s, you’d be crazy to pass it up.
The layout was fantastic; six stages were spread out among an Old West movie set which included a saloon, jail, and chapel among other buildings. Scattered around were sitting areas and places to spread out a blanket. Food trucks had a variety of vittles available for purchase. Of course, there was a ton of merch. Amazingly, the beverages were free (Lagunitas beer, Patron Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Tito’s Vodka, as well as cold-brew coffee and bottled water).
A light breeze kept the warm and sunny day from becoming uncomfortable. And comfort was the theme. The mellow vibe felt like a big family reunion. Musicians strolled through the crowd, joining friends on stage for impromptu jam sessions. Each and every act I watched mentioned how grateful they were to be there. The hardest part for me was choosing which group to watch; The Marcus King Band, Nathaniel Rateliff, Steve Earle, and Mavis Staples, among two dozen others.
As the sun went down, the other stages went dark. Everyone gathered around the main stage to watch the talented Nelson family. Paula Nelson started off with a set of country classics; Micah Nelson played his unworldy music as Particle Kid; Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real followed with their recent thought-provoking hits; and after one last set change, Willie walked out to a standing ovation.
The family was clearly up there to have fun, mixing standard Willie songs like On the Road Again with newer ones like Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die. They cheekily sang It’s Hard to Humble before filling the stage with other musicians to wrap up the show with Will the Circle Be Unbroken. I feel lucky to have attended such a phenomenal event!
I was fooled by these two aptly named Tropical Leafwings (Anaea aidea). If they hadn’t opened their wings I never would’ve noticed them, their camouflage is that good. I wish I had been able to get a better look at their vibrantly red open wings. However, this pair was too busy flirting to accommodate me.
A male Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) showing off his reddish dewlap. Though not true chameleons, anoles can change colors. The change from green to brown is not used for camouflage but in response to stress or other environmental factors. This one appeared pretty relaxed as he regarded me.
Spring is here, according to the flowers that are popping up. The Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) is, quite fittingly, the state flower. I remember reading about bluebonnets as a child and yearning to see them. I think the name added a certain allure.
I was rather disappointed when I later discovered that they were just lupines (which we have several species of in my childhood state of Arizona). Not to detract from their appeal, they are still lovely splashes of color.
This female Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) isn’t nearly as colorful as the males of her species yet she is still quite striking. One of the most common dragonflies in North America, they are another predator of mosquitoes (either larval or on the wing). Which endears them to me!
The city of Rockport bought this valuable piece of real estate in 2016 to protect a heron-egret-roseate spoonbill rookery (breeding colony). The property’s prime waterfront location, looking out over Little Bay, meant the roughly 9-acre site cost a pretty penny, just shy of $3 million. For the birds who rely on the safety of this oak motte to raise their young, it is priceless. The site is especially crucial after 2017’s Hurricane Harvey destroyed many other nearby nesting locations.
Bent Oak Rookery is bustling right now as the large birds are busily constructing and caring for nests. Finding just the right stick is a very serious matter.
Do not be fooled by this winsome, petite plant! Though Red Sundew (Drosera brevifolia) is minute, averaging just a little over an inch wide, it is an unforgiving carnivore. It lures insects in with a sweet scent, trapping them in sticky mucus, while releasing enzymes that dissolve the insect into readily absorbable nutrients. Here’s hoping the insect dies quickly.
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