Macro: Bees on False Dandelions

Honeybee

I have no clue to what type of bee this is -- he/she was one hyper critter! And, look at the pollen on its leg!

(Closeup/Crop)

Texas Indian Paintbrushes: Pink (Peach) Variation

To see what Texas Indian Paintbrushes look like, please refer back to my older posts:
White Variation (with a normal one).

This is not the greatest picture as it was a very windy day. But, I wanted y'all to see another variation of the Texas Indian Paintbrush.

Castilega indivisa (Texas Indian Paintbrush)

Shot on April 6, 2017

Macro: Unusual White False Dandelion

I was outside with Dan and Abby Gail on April 6th when I spied this unusual white False Dandelion. I believe this is the first one I ever seen and I thought it was very cool.

Here is what the False Dandelions look like. We have a kajillion of them on our land.

Texas Bluebonnet, White Variation

I was surprised and pleased to see a few white bluebonnets pop up this year as they were not the healthiest variety last year. They still seem a little stunted; but, at least, they are a tad healthier.

Lupinus texansis (Texas Bluebonnet)

Abby Gail Amongst Wilfdflowers

I have already posted these pictures on facebook; but, there are many who are not on facebook with me. So, I am posting them here for everyone to see. Both of these pictures were taken with my camera phone on the same day and both were in our backyard. Abby was pretty much annoyed with me by the time I took the last picture.

Macro: Texas Indian Paintbrush, White Variation

These are not the greatest pictures; but, it was bright and windy. I tried. We had about eight of these white variations this year and all of them were out front by the driveway.

Castilega indivisa (Texas Indian Paintbrush)

Macro: Painted Phlox

This flower is part of the Phlox family and is spread all over our land. I had sat down to keep an eye on Abby Gail and spied this beautiful flower that looked like it was just painted. It was very different from all the other ordinary pink flowers.

Wordy Wednesday {Gardening}

Dan took this picture on his iPhone. I was totally unaware of this until he showed it to me. I then demanded a copy as I loved the image especially with the paintbrushes in the background.

I decided to make a pile of rocks out of most of the sand stones we found while digging for the garden, trees and plants. Gracie decided to join me while Dan took a picture of me with my silly yard art. She put her lone paw on my thigh.

By the way, the strong winds blew over the top two rocks this morning. I knew that this was going to happen because they were precariously balanced.

Note: Both pictures taken on March 20, 2016

Wordy Wednesday

{Snapped on March 28, 2015}

I could not locate Abby Gail for a few minutes and finally discovered her laying amongst the Bluebonnets. I called her by name and she looked at me and gave a slow blink. For this reason, this is not the greatest picture; but, I liked it very much simply due to the love she showed me. Her slow blinks are kind of like a kitty kisses.

Garner State Park, June 2, 2015

Garner State Park, June 1, 2015

A striped (possibly whiptail) lizard.

I was shocked I managed to snap one lone picture of one as they are lightning quick. I was doubly shocked that it came out okay.

Checkered White {Pontia protodice}

A white butterfly in a field of (lazy?) daisies

Checkered White {Pontia protodice}

A Pipevine Swallowtail {Battus philenor} on Horsemint

The "Wascally Wabbit", Jack Rabbit

Unidentified

Texas Bindweed {Convolvulus equitans}.

This is part of the Morning Glory family!

I snapped this one to identify later. I still have not been able to identify this flower.

Brown-eyed Susan {Rudbeckia hirta}

Checkered White {Pontia protodice}

Unidentified Moth

For more information on the differences between butterflies and months, go here.

Heavy Laden with Pollen

I believe this is a bee fly {Bombyliidae}.

A Pipevine Swallowtail {Battus philenor} on Horsemint

Vesta Crescent or Vesta Crescentspot (Phyciodes vesta)

Note: One of my field guides, copyright 2012, lists "Phyciodes vesta" and has this exact butterfly pattern pictured. However, upon further research with another butterfly I snapped (and had difficulty identifying), I believe the correct classification is "Phyciodes graphica". The common name (Vesta Crescent) is still the same. Yes, I wasted bandwidth. But, at least, I feel better about the identification of this butterfly.

Macro Monday {White}

I believe this is a Checkered White {Pontia protodice}

{To see a larger image, go here.}

Garner State Park, June 1, 2015

I was not feeling the greatest while camping; but, I am so glad I went because the younger kids were so friendly and adorable. They hung around our campsite a LOT which pleased me to no end.

In the mornings and late evenings, I would wander around looking for flying flowers (butterflies). I actually channeled Elmer Fudd and hunted down some "wascally wabbits" and succeeded. In the afternoons, a woodpecker would regularly invade our campground and I attempted to capture them. Unfortunately, I only took one picture of people. Maybe next time I'll concentrate on capturing people in moments of time.

These were taken on June 1, 2015

Horsemint

The "Wascally Wabbit", Jack Rabbit

Bordered Patch {Chlosyne lacinia} butterfly

Unidentifed

A faded Bordered Patch {Chlosyne lacinia} butterfly

A faded checkered butterfly; most likely Vesta Crescent (Phyciodes vesta)

My field Guide also calls it a "Vesta Cresentspot"