Dainty and Sweet

After a much needed holiday break, it's time to get back to posting again. What better way to start the new year with something "dainty and sweet:"

As I have pointed out in previous posts, flower blossoms are far and few between this time of year. Pollinator insects that survive through the winter rely on whatever they can find in bloom. The Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) is one of the most winter-hardy of the butterflies having a year round flight. This Dainty Sulphur was taking full advantage of the White Sweetclover (Melilotus alba) blooming along the river bank.

White Sweetclover was introduced from Eurasia to the United States in late 1600s most likely for honey production and livestock forage. It was also considered to be an excellent plant for soil reclamation. As with so many introduced plants, the Sweetclovers have become invasive as they can quickly produce a monoculture, especially in disturbed riparian areas.

This set of photographs was taken along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River on Thursday, December 19, 2013.

Dainty Sulphur on Spiny Aster

This butterfly, flower combination may not be as poetic as Queen and Purple Mist, but these small Dainty Sulphurs appear to be the perfect butterfly to visually compliment the Spiny Aster flowers:

Numerous species of butterflies were active today (Monday, October 7, 2013) as I walked the San Antonio River Mission Reach trail between the Concepcíon Park and Confluence Park trailheads. The Dainty Sulphur  were particularly attracted to the numerous Spiny Aster (Chloracantha spinosa) flowers.

The Spiny Aster looks weak and straggly. Its leaves quickly drop off as they mature leaving the spindly bare stems. Their appearance, however, is misleading. This is a very important riparian plant, perfect for an environment that periodically floods. Above ground, the leafless stems provide very little resistance to the flood water. Below ground, its extensive root and rhizome system provides excellent erosion protection. It has a very high root stability rating of 8.

The Spiny Aster isn't specifically listed as a larval host for the Dainty Sulphur, but it is likely one possible host as this butterfly has a predilection for plants in the Asteraceae Family.

A Season of Possibilities and Challenges, A Sunday Special Edition

Sunday, March 31, 2013

A Season of Possibilities and Challenges

"You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope."  -  Thomas Merton

Spring always brings a multitude of possibilities. These possibilities come with all the challenges required to realize them. The quote from Thomas Merton, I think, provides the best perspective, not only for this time of year, but for all of one's life.

This set of photos are more wildflowers glowing in the sun with all the bright colors of Spring. They were taken on my walk along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River last Monday (March 25, 2013):

• The first photo is Mealy Blue Sage.
• The second photo is Texas Indian Paintbrush.
• The third and fourth photos are skipper butterflies on Mealy Blue Sage. The skipper near the top of the flowers in the third photo appears to be a Fiery Skipper. The one at the bottom of the flowers and in the fourth photo has very distinct wing markings, but there are apparently a fairly large number of skippers that have similar markings.
• The fifth photo is Texas Indian Paintbrush.
• The sixth photo is a cluster of Texas Dandelions.
• The seventh photo is Prairie Verbena
• The eighth photo is a Dainty Sulphur butterfly on a Lazy Daisy.
• The ninth photo is a close up of a Texas Dandelion flower with a Ladybug climbing through the petals.
• The tenth photo is a Slender Greenthread.
• The eleventh photo is Scarlet Sage.
• The twelfth photo is Pink Evening Primrose growing in a patch of Bluebonnets.

Yes, This Is South Texas

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

San Antonio River, Mission Reach, Concepcíon Park Trailhead upstream

Today's photos:

It's December in South Texas… with dragonflies and butterflies… and scouringrush horsetail.

As I mentioned in my post last Thursday (December 13), "… here in South Texas, summer rarely completely gives way to winter. Summer may go into hiding for a few days or even a couple of weeks, but it is never far away."

We had two nights below freezing last week. Yesterday and today we set record high temperatures for the two days, 81º (F) and 82 respectively. As I am typing this tonight, a Pacific cold front has blown in that will bring temperatures back to seasonal norms. We are supposed to be close to, if not below, freezing for the morning of the first day of Winter Friday.

Yes, this is South Texas and that's how it goes around here.

The butterflies in this series of photos in the order of first appearance are: common buckeye, ceraunus blue and dainty sulphur. As with all my walks along the San Antonio River, there are a slew more photos to publish in future posts.

A November Entry in the Salado Creek Chronicles, Part 1

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Salado Creek Greenway, Lady Bird Johnson Park Trailhead,
the Nacogdoches Rd bridge upstream to the 4.25 mile marker downstream

Today's photos:

As the title indicates, this is part one of a two part series chronicling a beautiful afternoon along the Salado Creek.