Lost Ladybug Project

Another ladybug for the Lost Ladybug Project, found inside our house the day after Christmas. It's a non-native multicolored Asian ladybug (Harmonia axyridis). Since 2009, I have contributed beetle images to the Lost Ladybug Project. Of the eight different species I've documented, seven have been found in our Wildscape. Cool!

Christmas blessings from all of us!

This morning, I opened our front door and found a gift bag looped over the door knob. A present! Inside, I found two beautiful Christmas pot holders made by our friends Linda and Rosemary (they're sisters). Then at the very bottom of the bag, I spotted.....YES....a beautiful CHRISTMAS jumping spider! Well, no, that's not her real name. But she does have lovely red spots on her abdomen. From what I can figure, she's a bold jumping spider. Though she wasn't too cooperative, I did manage to get a few photos of her before I let her go outside. 

So anyway, have a wonderful Christmas, y'all! Everyone here at this Texas Wildscape wishes you the very, very BEST!

Winter colors

My little point-and-shoot camera and I ventured outside this afternoon and found lots of winter color. Some of the photos aren't my best. But oh, well. Above: leadwort plumbago. Pretty!

Three-lobed rudbeckia

Common dandelion

'May Night' salvia

Wood sorrel

Fragrant sumac

Chile pequin

'Amazon' dianthus

Mountain mint

Coral honeysuckle

Green milkweed vine

Turk's cap

Another turk's cap fruit

Fragrant mistflower

Purple hearts

Bees work in the winter, too!

Green lichen

Queen on fragrant mistflower