Pretty in Pink: Giant Spiderwort

Giant Spiderwort (Tradescantia gigantea) is a perennial flower in Louisiana and Texas. This three-petal flower blooms in white, pink, blue, purple, or violet. The colors indicate the acidity of the soil in which they grow. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower … Read More

Mexican Blue Jay

When visiting Big Bend National Park, one can be assured of seeing unforgettable landscapes and plenty of wildlife. Black bears, for example, have made a remarkable comeback to the area. On one of our trips to the park in September … Read More

The Otherworldly Landscape of White Sands

Gleaming white sands cover an area of approximately 275 square miles (712 square km) of desert in New Mexico. White Sands National Park is the world’s largest gypsum dune field. An otherworldly landscape, the area reaches temperatures over 100ºF (38ºC) in … Read More

MoPOP: Where Metal Meets Music

In 2011, we went to Washington to visit all three national parks in that state. We stayed with a friend in Seattle on the weekends and spent weekdays in the national parks. It was a good plan because it allowed … Read More

A Brush with Beauty: The Red Admiral and Its Powerful Symbolism

Lately, while meditating on the patio, I have noticed a persistent Red Admiral butterfly fluttering near where I sit. I say persistence because it has been occurring for at least two weeks. I have even seen it around the patio … Read More