A dense stand of American Germander (Teucrium canadense) along the Katy Crossing Trail in Georgetown, Texas, with upright green spikes of small pale pink-lavender flowers opening from the bottom up, tight buds at the tips, and toothed leaves below, against a softly blurred background of more flower spikes and greenery.

Open to the Sky — American Germander Along the San Gabriel

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In late May, while walking along the Katy Crossing Trail at San Gabriel Park in Georgetown, I noticed a plant I hadn’t seen before. It stood well above the ground cover, with upright spikes of small pink-lavender flowers swaying in … Read More

Collage of four Central Texas wildflowers blooming together — scarlet leatherflower, Turk’s cap, upright prairie coneflower, and violet ruellia.

STUVendous Florals

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Here’s another installment of Terri’s Flower Hour ABCs. This week we are close to the end of the alphabet. My entries are pretty common in many places, but one flower is endemic to the Edwards Plateau region in central Texas. … Read More

Close-up of a single Texas Indian Mallow (Abutilon fruticosum) flower with five veined, pale orange-yellow petals and a cluster of yellow stamens at the center, a tiny insect resting on the lower petal, against soft-focus green leaves along the Katy Crossing trail in San Gabriel Park, Georgetown, Texas.

A Small Sun Beside the Trail — Texas Indian Mallow at Katy Crossing

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Sometimes, while biking along the Katy Crossing trail in San Gabriel Park, I spot beauty that steals the moment away. I apply the brakes and stop to appreciate what Nature gives me. No special equipment is needed — a simple … Read More

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 Pearl Crescent butterfly clings to a slender green grass blade with wings folded together, revealing the warm orange and black-veined underside lit by late-afternoon sun along Katy Crossing trail at San Gabriel Park, Georgetown, Texas.

Pearls in the Prairie

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Some treasures travel light. Along the Katy Crossing trail at San Gabriel Park, the Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) carries its namesake quietly — a small, milk-pale crescent tucked beneath the hindwing, visible only when the butterfly closes its sail. Late … 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 Great Blue Heron stands upright on a muddy bank at the water's edge, its long neck extended and orange-yellow bill pointed forward, reflected in warm amber and gold autumn-toned water.

Too Hot to Handle: How Great Blue Herons Keep Their Cool

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When most people think of a Great Blue Heron, they picture a stoic figure standing at the water’s edge. But sometimes that stillness gives way to something unexpected: a wide-open bill aimed skyward, holding perfectly still. It looks like a … Read More

A male Green-winged Teal duck standing on a mossy rock in golden water, tucking its head into its feathers to preen.

Emerald Wings in Golden Water

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There’s a specific kind of magic that happens when the sun hits the water at just the right angle, turning a river into a basin of liquid gold. It’s in these quiet, shimmering moments that the Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) … Read More

Seeing Differently

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Lens-Artists Challenge #385: Unusual Crop Photography rules can help create a balanced photo. However, the old saying that rules are written to be broken should be kept in mind if a photographer wants to blur the lines and show creativity. … Read More

San Gabriel River Flood (July 5, 2025)

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The July 4th weekend in 2025 was tragic for Central Texas. The devastating flood of the Guadalupe River took many lives, and several of them were children. The areas near Hunt, Ingram, and Kerrville were severely affected. The Guadalupe River … Read More

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