O wise cenizo!

Chalk up another point for the wise, all-knowing cenizo that lives across the street. It started blooming Aug. 12 and I posted a Facebook photo on Aug. 13, letting folks know that our cenizo predicted rain. Well, guess what? We just had an afternoon DOWNPOUR, and more may on the way! 

At the start of this month, the cenizo bloomed. Two days later, it rained. Last summer, the cenizo got it right three for three!

Crestrib update

My Edwards Plateau crestrib morning-glory (Ipomoea costellata var. edwardsensis) loved today's rains!

Argiope roll call

Molt Mate Murder lady in the lantanas

Despite our rough February storm (or because of it?), we've had a lot of nice surprises in our Wildscapes. Like an abundance of yellow garden spiders (Argiope aurantia). This summer, we have FIVE females! For the first time, I've observed males on most of the webs, too. I can't wait to see how many egg sacs they all turn out.

Argiope in the salvia 'Red Galeana' front yard

Argiope in the front yard turk's cap

  

Argiope near the back yard faux well

Shy Argiope near the back fence...she runs up her web when I approach

Cool wasp!

I have seen this striking little wasp twice now in our Wildscape. Yesterday (I fished it out of our stock tank pond) and also in June 2018. It's a parasitic (chalcidid) wasp, more specifically Conura sp. I vote for Conura amoena. I just had to share!

 

New butterfly species

Another one of those "right time, right place" stories. I was standing on our back patio a while ago and noticed a butterfly flitting around. It looked unfamiliar. Could it be a new species? I dashed inside for my smartphone, hoping the butterfly would still be around. It was! I got several shots, then added them to my iNaturalist list. Yes, a new species! This is a Texas powdered skipper (Systasea pulverulenta). Cool!

Beautiful new beetle!

Lucky me! I just happened to notice this beautiful beetle on some zizotes milkweed in the back yard. It's a swamp milkweed leaf beetle (Labidomera clivicollis). I am STILL amazed! A brand new species for me.

 

Look what James started!

 

For a while, I've been telling James that he should start his own blog. Because he's done SO MUCH WORK BY HIMSELF on the small tract of land that we own in Blanco County. If he blogged, he could share what he's done and learned in the process. Well, today's the day! James now has his own blog: "Bring Back the Natives: A Blanco County small landowner restores his slice of the Texas Hill Country." Check it out!