I enjoy attempting to decipher impressions left behind by animals in the mud. While I usually don’t get to see the animal, their marks tell me part of their story. This one took me a minute to process until I remembered where I was, gator country. Ah, yes a tale left in the mud by the tail drag of an alligator. I cautiously followed the progression of the drag to a small pond where mama was calmly positioned between me and her offspring. Was she smirking at me?
A fourth generation Texan in the Coastal Bend area watched his girlfriend drink another beer and said to me, ” Man, she’s gonna be selling Buicks in the morning!”
I understand that he meant she was gonna regret it but I’ve never heard that phrase before. Couldn’t find it on Google either. Perhaps it is hyper-local? Regardless, it made me laugh.
Anheuser-Busch Brewery Bottling Line, St. Louis, Missouri 2009
Don’t be fooled by the heart-shaped leaves or the slightly sweet, edible berries, Greenbriar (Smilax spp.) is a minacious, thorny, vine. Armed with tendrils and thorns, this vigorous bramble forms an impenetrable barrier as it twines through the live oak understory. While some property owners down here curse it, I admire the tenacity of this handsome plant.
At one time, the Blue-headed, Plumbeous, and Cassin’s Vireos were considered the same species called Solitary Vireo. Using genetic evidence the species were officially separated by the American Ornithological Union in 1997. While touring Aransas National Wildlife Refuge I was captivated by this vibrant Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius). I watched it hop around the live oak trees for a good twenty minutes. Mercifully, it halted for a brief respite so I could capture this image. Thank you, little one.
Several of these yuccas, also known as Spanish Dagger (Yucca treculeana), were blooming during my recent visit to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. They are not only showy but every part of this amazing plant can be utilized.
The flower stalk and blossoms are both edible, as are the young leaves and the fleshy fruit. The fibrous leaves are a source of cordage, not just prehistorically but also during WWI when roughly 80 million pounds were collected in New Mexico and Texas to compensate for the jute shortage.
Lastly, the roots produce an excellent soap, called amole, which is prized as a shampoo. Oh, I mustn’t neglect to mention all the various decoctions and medicinal uses. Not just a pretty plant!
This adorable little fungus reminds me of an upside down butternut squash. I’m lousy at identifying mushrooms so much so that I refuse to forage them. I’ll admit, I am wary of fungi. Especially after learning of the author Nicholas Evans’ horrific experience. He grew up mushrooming so no one questioned the contents of his basket before he sautéd them and served the whole family. Nicholas and his wife and two children had to go on dialysis for years. Yep, I’ll stick to just admiring them.
One of the names once used for the Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus). The largest of the sandpipers commonly found in North America, this bird is reportedly responsible for the moniker of a now defunct stadium. Candlestick Park took its name from Candlestick Point which supposedly honored the flocks of curlews that resided there. A striking bird by any name.
Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus), is one of the prized fish anglers hope to hook along the Texas Gulf Coast. With a diet consisting of oysters, clams, and crustaceans it should come as no surprise that Sheepshead have teeth. The weird part is how much their teeth resemble human teeth. The fish in my photo didn’t quite measure up to the required 15″ so it was carefully released back into the bay.
The American White Pelican is one of the largest birds in North America with a nine foot wingspan. I watched the entire bathing process of this pelican. It showed little concern for myself or other landlubbers…
This is but one of the creative “yarn bombs” on the bollards lining the I.B. Magee Jr. Beach Park in Port Aransas. The group behind the project hopes to put smiles on peoples’ faces with their colorful knittings. Worked on me. 🙂
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