Neighborhood Nature Walk

Lens-Artists Challenge #317 – Walking the Neighborhood

Teravista’s Main Entrance Pond

If you are a regular Through Brazilian Eyes blog follower, you know we moved to our forever home in July 2024. I have published four posts so far featuring some views around our home. Today, Tina (of Travels and Trifles) has an exciting new challenge: Walking the Neighborhood. You should check her post and walk around as she showcases her surroundings. The images you’ll see are beautiful and so inviting. Today, she is “asking you to share YOUR neighborhood with the rest of us.” Although most of the excitement I have seen is in my backyard’s wildlife presence, I will focus on the neighborhood around our home.

The opening image is at the entrance of Teravista in Round Rock and Georgetown, in the Austin metro area. Teravista is a planned community of about 3,400 homes in a 1,500-acre area. There are many amenities, from tennis and basketball courts to an 18-hole public golf course, various swimming pools, scenic parks, and over 10 miles (16 km) of biking and hiking trails. Around the community, there are three higher-education campuses, medical centers, and plenty of shopping outlets. Please come for a brief walk with me to get a glimpse of the area. Er, actually, I biked to make these photos, but once there, I walked around.

Golf Course
Hiking and Biking Trails
Oleander

Just as we leave our home, several oleander plants provide a natural setting on the other side of the street in our small 80-home gated area. We don’t have a house directly across from ours. This attention to landscaping is another attraction here. You see it everywhere, along the sidewalks and boulevards.


Retention ponds and ample grass fields are scattered throughout the area. The boulevards have manicured mini-gardens at all significant street intersections with native plants that attract pollinators.

Mealy Blue Sage, Red Texas Salvia, and Bitter Sneezeweed
Bee on Esperanza

Even though we are 40 days away, Halloween decorations are already appearing in several front yards. I am excited thinking about what we will see as Halloween gets closer.

With all-natural and man-made attractions, enjoying the end of day’s sunsets in this area is always calming and scenic.


Soon, I hope to add more photos of the wildlife I see in and outside our backyard. You can see a preview of that in the previous four posts I mentioned above.

I want to thank all of you who joined last week’s fun. I so much enjoyed seeing your photos and responses to the challenge. WP had some hiccups early on, and I may have missed a pingback from your post. The reactions and pictures were exciting. You know how to have fun.

I look forward to your responses to Tina’s Walking the Neighborhood challenge this week. Don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag when responding to it so we can easily find it in the Reader.

What will Patti (of P.A. Moed) challenge our imagination for next week? Tune in next Saturday at noon EDT in the USA. Please see this page to learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.


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44 Responses

  1. Wandering Dawgs
    | Reply

    I can see why you chose this beautiful place for your forever home. The native plants are gorgeous.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you so much, Beth. We are also very happy with our decision to move here.

  2. Tina Schell
    | Reply

    Oh my Egidio, looks like such a wonderful place!! I’m so happy for you and your partner to have found the home of your dreams. The walking path looks especially inviting especially for a hot summer’s day and the closing image of the pond is beautiful. Terrific post from start to finish.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you so much, Tina. Oh yeah, that walking path is one of my favorite part of the trails. It is so shaded and pleasant. Thanks for this great challenge and your feedback here.

  3. Writing to Freedom
    | Reply

    What a gorgeous setting Egidio. Congrats on finding such a beautiful place to call home. It looks and sounds very inviting!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Brad, thanks for your kind words. We are just 16 miles north of our old home in Austin, but it’s a world of difference.

  4. nesfelicio
    | Reply

    What a beautiful neighborhood! Beautifully captured at various times and locations. Enjoy it for many years to come!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, Nes. I appreciate your wishes and this comment.

  5. Anne Sandler
    | Reply

    What a beautiful neighborhood you have Egidio. It’s relaxing and enjoyable to walk. Enjoy!!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Anne, many thanks. Yes, I see a lot of people walking, jogging, and biking from time to time. It’s very well located and tranquil here.

  6. Vicki
    | Reply

    Such a wonderful community and landscaping. I like to see parks and gardens scattered throughout new estates and housing. It’s a welcome vista for those who are less able to walk far too.

    And for those like you who are adventurous, it’s a haven for outings, walking or biking.

    I think the best part about your nature surroundings is that it’s free and accessible to most.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Vicki, thank you for the compliment and comments. I think the extra care about the surroundings was good for the environment and residents, too.

  7. Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
    | Reply

    What a lovely location to move to, and it is so well maintained. You have chosen well for your forever home. The sunset is gorgeous

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you so much, Ritva. We are happy with our decision. It was the right time to do it as we are still very mobile and able to deal with a move.

  8. bushboy
    | Reply

    You have a wonderful place to live Egidio with lots to do and see.
    I am happy you have gardens for nature and space for birds and animals to roam

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you very much, Brian. I hope to get future posts showing more of the wildlife I’ve been able to photograph from the comfort of our backyard.

  9. Sofia Alves
    | Reply

    Happy days, Egídio, what a wonderful place to live. Beautiful photos too. I’m looking forward for more, especially when the seasons change 🙂

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks a million, Sofia. I appreciate you wishes and feedback.

  10. margaret21
    | Reply

    What an inviting area you live in. No wonder you chose it.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Margaret, yes, the care the developers put in the area really turned our heads and convince us to move here. Thank you so much for your comment.

  11. philosophy through photography
    | Reply

    Wow!
    Great place to live forever!
    Love your fab captures!
    Halloween is interesting!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Philo, we are happy we moved here. Thank you so much for your compliment. I’m curious about what Halloween decorations we’ll see around here. In our old neighborhood, some people would go overboard with decoration, and it was fun!

      • philosophy through photography
        | Reply

        Thank you, Egidio.
        You are right. The Halloween decoration is always unique and differs from place to place and is interesting to experience!

  12. Tra Italia e Finlandia
    | Reply

    Ciao Egidio, la foto col tramonto è la mia preferita in questo post. Buona settimana!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Luisella, grazie per il feedback. Buona settimana anche a te!

  13. Tranature - quiet moments in nature
    | Reply

    Beautiful photographs Egidio and what a wonderful place you have moved to! 😊

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Xenia, thanks a million for this note. It’s much appreciated.

  14. Terri Webster Schrandt
    | Reply

    What a wonderful stroll through your new neighborhood, Egidio. Austin is a gorgeous Texas city…I’ve had the pleasure to visit years back. Those planned communities are a great place to have your forever home. Your images and views are stunning!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Terri, I thank you for these kind words and compliment.

  15. sandyjwhite
    | Reply

    Looks like a wonderful place to live, Egidio!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, Sandy. We are so glad we moved here. We are still close to friends and only 16 miles (25 km) north from our old home.

  16. Wind Kisses
    | Reply

    it is so nice to see where you landed, Egidio. The community has thought of everything. Loved the walk and especially the mini gardens at the intersections. I would be begging to volunteer, it is so pretty. The gardens are also a natural way of saying, slow down. Smart designs.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      This planned community was well done. We never thought we’d be living here, but we are loving it! Thanks for your thoughtful feedback.

  17. JohnRH
    | Reply

    Wow. GREAt photos Egidio. Beautiful place!

  18. restlessjo
    | Reply

    I can certainly see the joy in living there, Egidio. Always beautiful photos!

  19. Leya
    | Reply

    Thank you for the visit and walk (bike…), Egidio! You have certainly found a wonderful area to call home and neighbourhood. I understand fully that you already love it. Wishing you two many wonderful days in all seasons there!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks for your kind words, Ann-Christine. I’m looking forward now to the changing seasons. I already enjoy the cooler temperatures when I meditate on our deck.

  20. Albatz Travel Adventures
    | Reply

    How wonderful that you were able to find a forever home in such a beautiful place with lots of safe biking trails. I love the colourful wild flower planting!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, Elizabeth. We are glad we were able to move here.

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