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Sept. 8, 2023 |
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Sept. 26, 2023 |
A Texas Hill Country yard turned wildlife habitat...
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Sept. 8, 2023 |
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Sept. 26, 2023 |
Below is a blind snake (found on The Reptile Database) that's coiled similarly to mine.....
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Scooter Cheater (Photo courtesy of Useful Wild Plants) |
Years ago Scooter Cheatham asked a classroom of high school sophomores to figure out how plants play a role in everything around them. As an example, he challenged them to connect plants to a pair of scissors. The Austin students, hoping for an easy answer, contacted the manufacturer. “There are no plants in our scissors,” a representative emailed back.
The response forced the teens to do their research. Ultimately “they learned that the manufacturing of steel to make scissors requires coal,” Cheatham says. “The orange plastic handles are derived from petrochemicals. The students also realized that the company representative was as ‘plant blind’ as everyone else about the importance of plants in our lives.”
They matter so much, in fact, that Cheatham has made them his lifelong mission. Plants support our food, health and industry—even contributing to the formation of coal and petrochemicals. For more than 50 years, he and his collaborators have worked to compile the ultimate reference encyclopedia: The Useful Wild Plants of Texas, the Southeastern and Southwestern United States, the Southern Plains, and Northern Mexico. ……..
To continue reading my Texas Co-op Power magazine article (August 2023), link to "Make Your Shelf Useful."
P.S. Of course, I had to purchase all four volumes.
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I know our Blanco crabapple tree will survive, but it's suffering, too. |
[Disclaimer: Read blog post "Something's not right– Part 1" FIRST.]
Folks, the oddest thing happened this morning. Someone knocked at our front door. Image my surprise when I saw the BLANCO MAYOR standing on our porch!
* * *
Mayor: "Good morning, ma'am. Sorry to bother you, but I'm here on official business. It's been reported that you have an abundance of [cough, cough] moonscapes in your yard?"
Me: Moonscapes?
Mayor: Yes, ma'am. That's what I was told.
Me: Hmmm, moonscapes. [Scratches chin] Who told you that?
Mayor: I'm not at liberty to say, ma'am. [Whispers] Top secret, ma'am.
Me: Oh, okay. Moonscapes, hmmm–
Mayor: [Nods]
Me: OH, YEAH! Of COURSE!
Mayor: Yes, yes? Don't keep me on pins and needles, ma'am.
Me: Those are ANTLION DENS–
Mayor: Ants? Lions? Dens? [looks aghast]
Me: [SMILES] Oh, yes. Don't worry, they're quite harmless and quite cool. Come on in. [Holds door open] I'll tell you all about them. How about some sweet tea?
Mayor: Well, that sounds lovely, ma'am. But hold on – I gotta call The President back. Oops!– [Covers mouth with hand]
Me: THE PRESIDENT–?!
* * *
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Antlions (Myrmeleon sp.) |
Above: A juvenile bug fell into a den this morning in our front yard.
Above: That same bug somehow escapes into the cone while the antlion continues to knock out dirt.
This summer's extreme heat and dry conditions have apparently boosted the number of antlion larvae in our yard. This morning, as I sidestepped as many dens as I could, I thought how communities of their upside-down cones reminded me of the moon. Moonscapes, I thought. And a fun idea was born....
Check out these antlion videos:
This Antlion is a Devious, Cold-Blooded Killer
Antlion Traps and Devours Victim
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From larva... |
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...to adult! |
Radio conversation overheard this morning:
International Space Station (ISS): "ISS to NASA. Something odd to report. Do you read us?"
NASA: "Yes, ISS, we read you. Hey, ya homies, whaz up? Havin' fun up there?"
ISS: "Uh– We just passed over Blanco, Texas, NASA. It appears that something's not quite right down there–"
NASA: "Like what? Do we need to notify the White House?" [Chuckle]
ISS: "Uh, hold off on that for now–"
NASA: "Well, what do you see? Must not be that big of a deal."
ISS: "Moonscapes–"
NASA: "Moonscapes, ISS? Hey, is this your cocktail hour up there?" [Snicker]
ISS: "No. [Unintelligible words] YES, NASA. We repeat MOONSCAPES. LOTS of moonscapes. Especially in one area on Ninth Street."
NASA: "Okay, okay, don't get your panties in a wad. Got some images for us?" [More snickers]
ISS: Just sent. Should be in your inbox now–"
Radio silence–
ISS: "Hello? ISS to NASA? You still read us?
More radio silence–
ISS: "Hello, hello?"
Continued radio silence–
ISS: "Guys, I think NASA hung up on us–"
NASA: "No, we're still here, ISS. Images received. Uh, [cough, cough] we're on this like June on a bug. Have a call into the Blanco mayor and The President, too. We'll have this issue resolved ASAP. Good job, ISS."
ISS: Ten four, NASA. Thanks so much for your (unintelligible words) help. Over and OUT."
UPDATE FORTHCOMING...
After nearly two years in the works, my article, "The Flies of Texas," has been published in July 2023 issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife. According to my mother, who's kept meticulous notes from the start, this is my 115th article for the publication. My first stories were published in 1989 under then editor David Baxter, who gave me my first shots at magazine writing. Thank you, Mr. Baxter! (I recently wrote him a personal note.)
To date, I've documented 115 fly species in our yard using iNaturalist. Here are just a few of my fly images that didn't make the issue...
Cactus fly |
Geron sp. |
Fruit fly Trupanea sp. |
Elephant mosquito |
Eastern hornet fly |
Clubbed mydas flies (making more) |
Bicolored plushback |
Australian sheep blow fly |
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Robbery fly (Efferia sp.) with fly cuisine |