A Green Jay with a lime-green back, lemon-yellow belly, and blue-and-black head forages along the forest floor among fallen twigs and leaf litter at the National Butterfly Center.

A Green Jay for Earth Day: Treasures of the National Butterfly Center

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I spent five days around South Padre Island and Mission, Texas, last week. One place I wanted to visit was the National Butterfly Center. I was not sure what I would find, but knowing the Center is right on the … 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

Sunlit woodland trail at Copperfield Nature Trail in Austin Texas framed by large tree trunks in the foreground, winding dirt path and footbridge in the middle ground, and bright open forest clearing in the background.

Foreground to Horizon: Layered Nature Photography

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Lens-Artists Challenge #392: Framing Your Shots: Exploring the Foreground, Middle Ground, and Background When Patti set the theme for this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge, I wanted to capture new photos that put her excellent guidance to the test. She wrote, “This … Read More

A wide panoramic view of the Machu Picchu citadel bathed in warm sunlight, with terraced stone ruins in the foreground, the iconic Huayna Picchu peak rising sharply on the right, and the Andes mountains receding into a blue sky with wispy clouds.

Huayna Picchu: Standing on the Edge of the World

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You’ve seen that photo before — the one of Machu Picchu with a dramatic mountain looming in the background. That mountain is Huayna Picchu, and the sweeping view below? That was taken from its summit, where I stood, slightly breathless, … Read More

Juniper Hairstreak butterfly on Redbud tree

Chasing the First Pollinators of Spring in Central Texas

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As winter loosens its grip and the first trees break into bloom, one of nature’s quietest spectacles begins — the return of the pollinators. This featured image was captured at Balcones District Park in Austin, TX, where an Eastern Redbud … Read More