A wide, low-angle view of a Pflugerville prairie blanketed in Firewheel wildflowers, their fiery red centers and yellow tips repeating into a softly blurred horizon dotted with bright yellow Stiff Greenthread.

A Field Aflame — and the One That Wasn’t

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A week ago, a friend invited me to join him for an early-morning walk through an open field in Pflugerville, where wildflowers were growing undisturbed. The day was windy, but the light was generous, and the field had been waiting. … Read More

A small pond seen through overhanging branches, surrounded by spring-green trees whose foliage and reflections fill the frame; a soft, painterly edit gives the scene a dream-like quality. Copperfield Nature Trail, Austin, Texas.

A Different Green Every Spring

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Lens-Artists Challenge #398: Choose a Color “Nature in her green, tranquil woods heals and soothes all afflictions.”  — John Muir Ritva sets this week’s challenge: Choose a Color. In her post, she gives us plenty of beautiful examples and ample … Read More

A thin waterfall spills down a moss- and lichen-covered limestone cliff into the cypress-lined pool at Krause Springs on a calm winter afternoon.

A Hush in the Hill Country: Krause Springs in Winter

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Considered by many to be the best swimming hole in Texas, Krause Springs sits in Spicewood, about 30 miles (48 km) west of Austin. Thirty-two springs feed its pools and waterfalls, all held inside a 115-acre (about 47-hectare) property listed … Read More

Close-up of a Pretty Sneezeweed in profile, its dark, dome-shaped center crowned with yellow rays, while a smaller round bud nestles against its side like a quiet twin, all set against a softly blurred green field.

Twin Suns and the Beauty of Being Different

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“In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.”— Maya Angelou It is believed that diversity makes us strong. In the world of wildflowers, would we apply the same principle? Most definitely so, I think. There is beauty in a … Read More

A small stand of Wild Bergamot in bloom, its lavender-pink flower heads rising on slender stems above green foliage, with a softly blurred stone courtyard wall in the background.

Touched by Light: The Textures of Wild Bergamot

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Lens-Artists Challenge #397: Texture For this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge, Anne has chosen a topic close to my heart: texture. As she puts it, texture “gives us the visual quality of a surface — how rough, smooth, gritty, or soft it … Read More

Soft, impressionistic reflection of bare trees and a wooden footbridge mirrored on the calm green-blue surface of the San Gabriel River, with grasses along the bank.

The River’s Quiet Garden

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Although I enjoy biking at San Gabriel Park in Georgetown, Texas, lately I’ve spent more time walking one particular trail there — Katy Crossing. It’s a beloved route for mountain bikers, but what keeps drawing me back, besides the riding, … Read More

A cluster of pickerelweed plants along the edge of a calm pond, violet flower spikes scattered among bright green heart-shaped leaves and tall reeds, with the water reflecting the morning light.

Pickerel-What? Weed by Name, Wonder by Nature.

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Last year, I revisited a friend’s ranch just outside Caldwell, Texas, for a refresher on macro photography of bees and odonates in flight. After an early morning session photographing bees, I found myself gravitating toward other treats on his property. … Read More

Collage of three images of Engelmann's Daisy, including one image showing the flower with its curled petals.

The Sleepy Daisy of the Texas Prairie

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“How wonderful yellow is.It stands for the sun.”Vincent van Gogh A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine texted me about some amazing rain lilies in an open field in Pflugerville, Texas. Pflugerville is the town between Austin and … Read More

A weathered wooden arch marks the trailhead entrance to Twin Springs Preserve, flanked by a stone foundation and framed by the dense canopy of Ashe Juniper (Juniperus ashei) and mixed Texas Hill Country brush.

Off the Beaten Path: A Quiet Afternoon at Twin Springs Preserve

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I recently completed a two-part training on the Leave No Trace Seven Principles — a meaningful program that encourages us to be more mindful of protecting the places we visit and hike. For those unfamiliar, the seven principles are: Plan … Read More

Close-up of a White Winecup (Callirhoe involucrata var. lineariloba) flower bud tightly wrapped in bright green sepals, with soft pink and white petals just beginning to emerge, photographed at ground level at Berry Springs Park & Preserve, Texas.

A Cup of Morning

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On a recent morning walk through Berry Springs Park & Preserve, I kept stopping in my tracks. Scattered across several open areas of the park, clusters of White Winecup (Callirhoe involucrata var. lineariloba) were putting on a quiet, understated show … Read More

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