A Many Splendored Thing

Thursday, May 17, 2012

I have taken so many photographs and begun so many series of posts this month, publishing them all is going to take some time. I have been a bit concerned about all of the juxtapositions that will occur in posting "part 2's" in something of a random order. After giving this some thought, however, it occurred to me that my walk locations have meandered around Bexar County anyway.

Bexar County is home to four different eco-regions: Edwards Plateau, Blackland Prairie, South Texas Plains and Post Oak Savannah. Different flora and fauna predominate in each of the four regions, but there are no distinct boundaries. One region blends into the adjoining ones. While each of my posts is from a distinct area within the county, as an aggregate, the posts reflect this unique blend of eco-regions.

I probably should also mention that there are numerous non-native invasive species of both plants and animals in Bexar County such as Chinaberry trees, ligustrum (privet), Chinese tallow trees, etc. to name only a few. This is a topic I have briefly touched on in a few of the previous posts. Eventually, I will address this issue in a post dedicated to the topic.

With that introduction in mind, today's photos were taken on my walk from the Ingram Transit Center Trailhead, Leon Creek Greenway on May 4. This series features a sample of the numerous wildflowers I encountered:

Following a Deluge, A Torrent of Photos

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Eisenhower Park, Cedar Flats > Live Oak > Hillside (south) Trails

Today's photos:

Monday night and Tuesday morning the sky opened up releasing a deluge of rain, officially 4.01 inches worth to be exact. May is normally the third wettest month of the year in Bexar County. On top of the previous rain this month, as occasionally happens here in South Texas, we received an entire month's worth of rain in less than twenty-four hours.

Rather than beginning the new While on a Walk year along the Salado Creek as I had been planning, I decided it would be better to walk today at Eisenhower Park. This park is on high ground that drains fairly quickly. It is essentially the side of a very large hill. And I hadn't yet walked the south portion of the Hillside Trail in the park.

I passed up several gazillion photo opportunities.

I really did.

But, I still ended up with way more than enough photos for one post. So, the torrent of nature photographs continues…

Celebrating "While on a Walk's" First Anniversary

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Today marks the first anniversary of While on a Walk. I feel I should be able to write some sort of profound reflection on the past year, but I rarely have as much time as I would like for such meditation these days, much less time to write about it.

It has been quite a year. I have only missed five or six walks. However, I have managed to find something to post even on those days. I don't have a specific count on the number of photos I have posted. My best guess is around 4,000, give or take a few hundred.

I had considered posting ten or twenty of my favorite photos from the past year to celebrate this anniversary, but the task of doing that edit proved to be overwhelming. So, in keeping with my friend's admonition that in a pinch "all you have to do is post one photo and write something," here is one photo that for me is as emblematic as any of all that underlies this blog:

As I have become more comfortable on the trails over the past year, the photographs have improved, both in terms of production quality and with my ability to be aware of my surroundings. To celebrate the past year with me, I recommend you spend a few minutes scrolling down a page of the blog, then click on the "older posts" link at the bottom of each page. If you have the time, you will eventually reach the first post from May 15, 2011.

The Blogger stats indicate I have an international audience with a substantial number of page views especially from Russia. It has been a great pleasure to share the beauty and diversity of Bexar County's wildlife with such a widespread audience.

I am also well aware that posting comments on blogs powered by Blogger isn't very easy. I really do welcome comments via email. Feedback is important.

For the coming year, there are still trails I haven't walked; some that I just haven't gotten to and some that have opened in the past few months. All the trails I have previously walked I will walk again as they are constantly in a dynamic flux. Such is life.

The walks and the production of While on a Walk have been a labor of love; a source of great joy and excitement for me. I have learned a lot through the year. I can see where posting may become a bit erratic at times over the coming year. Among other things, I am planning on taking the Texas Parks and Wildlife, Certified Master Naturalist training this fall. But, with as much regularity as I can manage, the blog will continue.

An Enchanted Afternoon, Part 1

Monday, May 14, 2012

The San Antonio River, Park Segment

Today's photos:

All I can say is something truly mystical occurred while on my walk today.