Lens-Artists Challenge #343 – Seen on my Last Outing
I had already picked what would have been my post for this latest Lens-Artists challenge. After having had a mild flu case two weeks ago, I was ready to get out and make up for lost time. So, when I read Ann-Christine’s call for things See on My Last Outing, my topic became a moving target. What changed it all was my outing on Sunday morning. To better understand Ann-Christine’s challenge, please see her post here. It’s a terrific challenge with wide-open choices.
Braving the weather, I met with several master naturalists and visited a non-public section of the fantastic Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge: Flying X Ranch. It is located 45 minutes from my house. I discovered the private hike because this semester, I am taking a class to become a Texas Master Naturalist. It was advertised in the chapter’s newsletter.
“Plans to protect air and water,
wilderness, and wildlife
are in fact plans to protect man.“
Stewart Udall
To give you a brief idea of the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, suffice to know that it is located in central Texas and protects the habitat for endangered species like the golden-cheeked warbler and the black-capped vireo, as well as other native wildlife and plants. This is a brief sample of what I saw today. All of these six macros bring us closer to these tiny native blooms.
The Texas Stork’s Bill (Erodium texanum) is one of those flowers that open late in the day and close in the morning, except on cloudy days. We were lucky it was an overcast day. The flower attracts various pollinators and measures approximately 0.2 to 0.4 inches (1 cm) in diameter.
The Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is another small flower measuring around 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) long from the spur’s tip to the stamens’ tip. With that shape, this flower attracts hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and moths, among other pollinators.
“In difficult times carry something beautiful in your heart.” –Blaise Pascal
Lindheimer’s paintbrush (Castilleja lindheimeri) is a striking wildflower native to Texas. It attracts bees and hummingbirds. Although the flower spikes can be up to 6 inches (15.25 cm) long, individual flowers are only 1.0-1.5 inches (25-40 mm) long.
Drummond’s Onion (Allium drummondii), another Texas native, is a beautiful flower cluster ranging from white to pink. The flowers attract several pollinators, including bees and butterflies. The flowers are tiny, and their flower heads may contain 10-25 individual flowers with sizes from 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) in diameter.
“Love is the answer, and you know that for sure;
Love is a flower, you’ve got to let it grow.“
John Lennon
Antelope-Horns Milkweed (Asclepias asperula) is a remarkable milkweed with environmental importance as it is the sole food source for monarch butterfly larvae. Although it may grow 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) tall, the flower head clusters are only 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter.
The flowers of Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) always stand out at this time of the year. With their striking complementary colors, you cannot miss them on a field. The flowers are typically 0.75-1.5 inches (20-40 mm) in diameter and often appear in clusters of 3-5 on a stalk.
I want to thank everyone who embraced my challenge last week and showed us your wild side. Beautiful photos! For this week, I hope you’ll join Ann-Christine’s See on My Last Outing challenge. I look forward to seeing where you went on your last outing. Don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag when creating your post so we can easily find it in the Reader.
Next week, Anne of Slow Shutter Speed will return with another challenge. It will go live at noon EST in the USA. Tune in to find out more about the challenge then. Please see this page to learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.
Although these flowers are not in my garden, I want to add them to Terri’s challenge Sunday Still: What’s in Your #Garden?
Those are the stories behind the shots. If you liked these photos, you might also be interested in other posts featuring Antelope-Horns Milkweed, Balcones Canyonlands NWR, Drummond’s Onion, Landscapes, Lens-Artists, Macros, Parks, Sunday Stills, Texas, Texas Stork’s Bill, and Wildflowers. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.
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JohnRH
Great photos Egidio. Texas has some purdy country!!
Egidio Leitao
John, many thanks. The scenery is purdy, especially in the Hill Country, where this wildlife refuge is.
Anne Sandler
These are oh so beautiful Egidio!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you so much, Anne. I love these wildflowers, too.
Terri Webster Schrandt
Your images are beyond stunning, Egidio! It’s always a pleasure to enjoy flowers in other gardens or on a trail. How wonderful to be enrolled in that course! Do they know what a talented photographer you are? Perhaps they need images for their brochures and online info! You’re the man for the job!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you so much, Terri. Since we are not having large amounts of Bluebonnets, we are able to focus on these beauties. As for the master naturalist course, it’s a wonderful thing. There are other photographers in the class. We do upload some of our photos to a community pool so that others can use them in presentations, if needed. Thanks, again.
restlessjo
Absolutely wonderful Macros, Egidio. What a great thing to be involved with, and what a beautiful place to do it xx
Egidio Leitao
Thank you so very much, Jo. I appreciate your feedback.
margaret21
What beautiful flowers, and all unknown to us here in our little corner of the planet. A great project to be involved with!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Margaret. I’m loving this class and the exposure to these beauties.
Agata 40thousandkm
Enormous beauty in the small blooms 🙂
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Agata.
Tina Schell
Kudos to your commitment to nature and to preservation Egídio. The images are wonderful and are all species I’ve never seen. They’re glorious examples of nature’s best work!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Tina. I handpicked these Texas natives so that others could see them. Some of them are also found in neighboring states or have larger varieties (e.g., Colorado’s columbines). So happy you liked these photos. Thanks for the feedback.
Wandering Dawgs
Wow, these Texas wildflowers are beauties! Congratulations on taking the Texas Master Naturalist Course.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you very much, Beth. I appreciate your comment and compliment. I’m loving the class.
Toonsarah
All these flowers are lovely, and beautifully photographed too, but I especially love the Eastern Red Columbine – what a striking flower!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Sarah. I’m happy you liked the flowers. The columbine is a smaller variety of the more commonly known Colorado columbine (their state flower).
I. J. Khanewala
Wonderful. Great photos, and a lovely intro to a set of flowers I haven’t seen. Wild flower spotting is also one of my favourite reasons to be outdoors.
Egidio Leitao
Many thanks, I.J. I hope to post more flowers from this area.
Leya
How great – a Master Naturalist Course! And master photography you show us – as always. Gorgeous flower photos, and I do have a favourite – the little Columbine. But also the Antelope-Horns Milkweed is spectacular. I am so pleased you showed these wonders to us!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you very much, Ann-Christine. I’m glad you liked these flowers.
sandyjwhite
You have two of my favorites here, Egidio…columbine and paintbrush.
Egidio Leitao
That is great, Sandy. Thank you for the feedback.
Leanne Cole
Looks like you are still showing your wild side in your last outing Egidio, these are beautiful, I especially like the Antelope-Horns Milkweed.
Egidio Leitao
Leanne, nature photography is my favorite. The challenge last week was a simple way to tie my preference to the theme. 🙂 Thank you for the feedback.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Lovely flowers that you have photographed do beautifully and what a place. Glad you are feeling better.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Ritva.
Sofia Alves
Beautiful shots, Egídio. You’re so lucky to have all of this nearby.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Sofia. I continue to count my blessings. I can escape to nature easily and quicklly.
photobyjohnbo
Your macros are special, Egidio! Perfect subjects for the challenge!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, John.
Albatz Travel Adventures
Your photos show you’re well on the way to be a master naturalist!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Elizabeth.
thesimlux
Such delicate and intricate beauty! 🤩
Egidio Leitao
Thank you for your kind feedback.
Dawn M. Miller
These are exquisite images!