On the Yanaguana Trail Approaching the End of the Year

Friday, December 28, 2012

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

Today's photos:

Following a couple of cold days, this was another very pleasant mild one. There is another weather related saying here in South Texas. We have two seasons: summer and winter. They sometimes alternate days in the same week. That has definitely been true this December.

This set of photos very effectively communicates my experience of this walk. I only have two side notes to add.

The orange Japanese ladybug (Harmonia axiridis) is native to Asia and was introduced to the United States in the early 1900s apparently to control a major aphid infestation. They were reintroduced on a larger scale in 1979 and 1980 by the USDA to control another aphid infestation this time that was destroying pecan trees in the southeastern part of the country.They have been very prolific in South Bexar County this fall.

The other item I find of particular interest is the abundance of Texas baby blue eyes currently in bloom along the Yanaguana trail. According to the Native Plant Database at wildflower.org, the Nemophila phacelioides, Nutt. are annuals that bloom in March, April and May: "This plant blooms early and dies by summer." So, I guess even the wildlife is having difficulty keeping track of what season it really is here.

Christmas Eve, Chasing Butterflies

Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24, 2012

San Antonio River, Eagleland Reach, Blue Star Trailhead downstream

Today's photos:

All I can say is, there is nothing quite like chasing butterflies (literally) on Christmas Eve. It isn't exactly what I expected to photograph as I drove to the River, but then I never quite know what I will encounter. What I encountered today was another abundance of butterflies, especially the gulf fritillaries and orange sulphurs, and other kinds of butterflies as well.

A Butterfly on Firewheel Extravaganza

Thursday, December 13, 2012

This past Friday when I walked along the San Antonio River, there were quite a few firewheel in bloom. This flower, Gaillardia pulchella Foug., is also commonly known as Indian blanket. The butterflies were having a feast on the flowers' nectar:

Keep in mind, these photos were taken a couple days before the arctic cold front blew through late in the weekend, bringing a couple nights below freezing with it. I thought about titling this post "Summer's Last Stand," but 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.

A Few Butterflies in the Medina River Upland Woods

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Other than the American snouts that were feasting on the Condalia fruit yesterday along the Medina River Greenway, most of the butterflies weren't perching long enough for me to take their photo. Perhaps they sensed the impending change in the weather with another cold front approaching. However, I did manage to get a few photos: