Meanwhile, Back Along the Yanaguana…

Monday, April 8, 2013

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Mission San Juan Capistrano,
Yanaguana Nature Trail

Today's photos:

My schedule this week will keep me very busy along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River. I figured the best place to begin the week would be on the Yanaguana Nature Trail at Mission San Juan.

The San Antonio River Greenway trail section between San Juan Dam and San Juan Mission was opened about a week ago, so this is currently the southern most location on the Greenway. The final section of the trail south to Mission Espada is scheduled to open this Fall.

• The first photo is a Coreopsis flower. Coreopsis is a genus with at least twenty-five species. This flower could be any of at least three species all having the common name Golden-wave.
• The second photo is a branch of a Retama tree, also known as Paloverde. The Retama are just beginning to bloom.
• The third and fourth photos are of a Mason Bee, probably Osmia ribifloris, on Hedge Parsley, also known as Beggar's Tick. This plant is a noxious weed that, unfortunately, is growing in great abundance along the Yanaguana trail. Bees of numerous species, however, were taking full advantage of the nectar in all these flowers.
• The fifth photo is a False Dayflower.
• The sixth and seventh photos are close ups of leaves of an Anacua tree. This is also known as a Sandpaper tree because the silica deposits in the leaves make them feel like sandpaper. The rough sandpaper texture of the leaf can be seen fairly well in the seventh photo.
• The eighth and ninth photos are of a Dewberry patch with dewberries at various stages of development.
• The tenth photo is a Fleabane Daisy in the genus Erigeron.
• The eleventh photo is freshwater mussel shells on the bank of the river at the water's edge. Freshwater mussels are important in monitoring the health of natural waterways, but I don't know enough about them to tell if the ones pictured here are native or introduced species.
• The twelfth and thirteenth photos are a Cross Orbweaver spider. These very small orb weavers are very common spiders. The spider in these photos was little more than a quarter inch long.
• The fourteenth photo is Inland Sea Oats grass from last Fall.
• The fifteenth photo is a cluster of Texas Baby Blue Eyes growing among some fallen branches.
• The sixteenth and seventeenth photos are a male Northern Cardinal keeping an eye on me through an opening in the leaves.
• The eighteenth and nineteenth photos are a Bordered Patch butterfly.
• The twentieth photo is a Fox Squirrel munching on acorns on the lawn near the recently restored Mission San Juan chapel.