Wednesday, October 24, 2012
San Antonio Botanical Garden, Texas Native Trail once around the pond
Today's photos:
There was much to see and photograph today at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, especially along the section of the Texas Native Trail (pdf map link) that circles the pond. This particular section of the trail emphasizes the plants of the East Texas Pineywoods region.
I would like to have had more time to spend walking today, but physical therapy for my shoulder took priority. As can be seen in the photographs, there is much more to the Botanical Gardens than just plants.
So that there is no confusion, the butterfly in the first photograph of the series is a Queen butterfly. It is one of at least a couple of butterfly species that closely mimic the appearance of the Monarch butterfly.
Friday, October 12, 2012
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Yanaguana Nature Trails
Today's photos:
Before breaking my arm early in the morning on Monday, September 10, I had been planning on walking the Yanaguana Nature Trail later that day. Today, a bit over a month later I finally made the walk. I'm still not nearly as functional as I was before the break, but in a rather ironic way, it has slowed me down and made me even more observant of my surroundings than I was before.
This is the first of three sets of photos from today's walk. I could easily have spent two or three times longer on the trail than my schedule and stamina allowed.
One of the plants that I was a little surprised, but very pleased, to see was the Lindheimer muhly. This is a native Texas bunch grass endemic to the Edwards Plateau. It is being used increasingly in home landscaping. Since this one small stand of the grass is growing under a tree, I suspect a bird had carried a beak full of seed from a planting nearby and dropped the seed before the bird could eat it.
