As part of a photography class I took in 2022, students received an assignment every week. Initially, the focus was on composition. We had to use only new photos, shoot them in manual mode, and not crop them at all. … Read More

Blue Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) is one of those flowers that keeps blooming even in extreme temperatures and dry conditions. This native South African plant has become well-adapted to Texas heat and drought conditions. Birds, bees, and butterflies love this plant. … Read More

A spring hike at the beautiful Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge’s Doeskin Ranch trail often leads to unexpected photo opportunities. This wildlife refuge is just outside the Austin city limits and offers a nice view of the Hill Country and … Read More

One of the nicest things about Texas wildflowers is that one can often find some varieties blooming at all times of the year, and not just in the spring months. Typically, from February through early June, most of everyone’s favorite … Read More

Whenever I bike the Southern Walnut Creek Hike & Bike trail in Austin, I know that besides tranquility, I can often count on beautiful scenery, whether it’s wildlife and/or wildflowers. If you ride the entire trail, you will cover about … Read More

Lens-Artists Challenge #372: Ephemeral What a wonderful challenge Tina gave us this week: Ephemeral. Here’s her prompt: “I will start this week’s challenge with the dictionary’s short and simple definition of the word ephemeral – ‘lasting for a very short … Read More

During the COVID era, trying to maintain social distancing while remaining active led many of us to head to parks. These images were the result of one of those outings at McKinney Roughs Nature Park. The Lower Colorado River Authority … Read More

Every time I volunteer for the Fauna Project at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, I am often distracted by the beautiful flora that surrounds me. So, it’s no wonder I end up with many flower photos from each visit. … Read More

With summer-like temperatures still present in the middle of October, there is not much one would think could be in bloom right now. I do recall, though, that in our old home’s front garden, Blue Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) always beat … Read More

Lens-Artists Challenge #368: Looking Back to Lens-Artists Challenge #106: Autumn Those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are beginning to experience the beauty that fall colors bring. However, if you live in Texas, the colors are barely there. There are … Read More