Purplish hues

I just couldn't resist. This morning, I walked across the street and photographed a beautiful cenizo (Leucophyllum frutescens) in full bloom. The bees were everywhere on it. I also spotted another purple bloom–a silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium), listed as a toxic plant.

Cenizo (also called Texas sage and purplesage) Leucophyllum frutescens

Silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium

Green lynx spiders

This evening, I was watering the lantanas when I spotted a bright lime green spider–a green lynx! I ran inside for my camera. So did James. I snapped some so-so pictures (still learning my macro lens). James spotted a second spider. Later, I got up CLOSE and checked. Yup. One was female, the other male. Naturally–tis that time of year...mating.

Like jumping spiders, the green lynx (Peucetia viridans) wanders around, stalks its prey, and doesn't build an orb web. Females make excellent mothers. After laying their eggs, they sit atop the silken sac and guard it until the little hatch and disperse. Green lynx spiders are some of the most beautiful spiders you'll see.

More anoles

Yesterday, while showing my parents and uncle around the front yard, we noticed a male anole in the turk's cap. The day before, I'd spotted a smaller one. Well, this guy ran deeper in the foliage. I found him. Or so I thought. Wow, he'd already caught a cricket!

But not so. It was the smaller anole (probably female), chomping on the cricket. The male cozied up and onto her. James shot several photos, and this one came out the best. By the time he shot this, however, the male had departed the premises. That's the female with the cricket in her mouth.

Why all the anole photos? In years past, I rarely ever saw an anole in this yard. But this summer, we're up to five. I think it's because we're creating more habitat, which gives them a place to hide from cats and other predators.

I've loved anoles since I was a child, and it's really wonderful to see them returning to our yard.

One fierce (little) snake

Earlier this afternoon, I went outside with an oatmeal cookie and a glass of apple juice. I was about to sit on the front porch when a movement caught my eye. A little snake! It was 6 or so inches long. It hid behind the succulent. I tried to catch it, but the little guy coiled up, reared his head, and lunged at me. Hmmm, I knew he couldn't hurt me. But still, if he managed to latch onto me, he might not let go! So I went to the garage for a rag. After many attempts, I finally nabbed it. While I held him firmly in my left hand, I snapped off photos with my right.

Then I carried the snake to the back yard, where I set the rag down next to the Sanctuary (our "wild," unkept corner of the Wildscape). He didn't budget at first. Instead, he flicked his tongue at me (which I barely caught in the photo below). After a few minutes, he slithered off into the dead oak leaves. Yesterday, James said he spotted a small ribbon snake in the same area. Well, now there's two! And I'm bound and determined to figure out this species. Give me a day or two...

Monday, August 4, 2008–UPDATE–Andy Price, a natural resources scientist with Texas Parks and Wildlife, emailed back that this guy is a mountains patchnose snake (Salvadora grahamiae). I asked if it was out of its range, but he says the species does occur on the Edwards Plateau. According to A Field Guide to Texas Snakes, this species does flail and nip when threatened. Also the snake's saliva is "somewhat toxic to their small prey, though it poses no danger to humans." They primarily eat lizards (uh oh, our anoles!!!) and sometimes smaller snakes, reptile eggs and mice.

P.S. Here's a COOL website for help with identifying turtles, snakes and lizards in your yard: Austin Reptile Service.

The trumpet bloomed

The trumpet vine bloomed for the first time this morning....

Orange and green

Last year, our neighbors, the Murrahs, gave us eight little trumpet vines. We planted them along the chain-link fence in the front yard. They did well last summer. The other day, James noticed our very first blooms. I took some "before" shots this morning.

Trumpet vine (I think)

For Mother's Day in 2004, my favorite son, Patrick, gave me a satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu 'Miho') tree. At first, I just knew I'd kill it. But miraculously, it survived! I was even more amazed when it put on fruit in 2006. Around Halloween that year, we had a lot of sweet fruit. The mandarins were really good! In the winter every year, I move the tree into our garage, which has a window. So it gets some sun and seems happy. This spring, James and I repotted my tree, which I thought would really upset it. It already had lots of fruit. And it did drop a lot. But there's more still there, so looks like we'll have some more mandarins this fall to enjoy.


More orange and green... More queens are arriving to feast on our blue mist and butterfly weed. Not as many butterflies this season, but we'll welcome whoever comes!

Mayhem in the garage

Lindsey hollered at me from the garage yesterday afternoon.

"Mom, get out here NOW!"

"Why? What's the matter," I said. I lolly gagged some more, and she yelled even more urgently.

"MOM, NOW!"

So I ran out to the garage, and she pointed toward a corner. "The cats got a bird, and it's still alive!"

In a corner, behind the two pots of dying purple loosestrife, huddled a white-winged dove. "Go get a shoebox, Lindsey," I said as I scooped up the bird. She was wounded, I could see. Lindsey ran back with a box. I gently set the bird inside and set the lid on top. Then I carried the box to our bedroom and set it on the floor. I'd let it recuperate and calm down inside the dark box.

Throughout the rest of the afternoon, I quietly opened the box and peeked inside. It was still alive! I thought for sure it might not make it. After supper, James corralled the cats (NO MORE CATS AFTER THESE!), and I carried the box across the street. I opened the lid, and the nervous bird peered at the tree branches. Then it tried to fly, only to flutter to the ground. James walked over. I cried.

"Would you like to take it to Wildlife Rescue?" he offered. I nodded. Honestly, I must confess, I thought Why? It's just another white wing. But it deserved a chance. So I called the hotline, and a young woman answered.

After a few questions about the bird's injuries and conditions, she said, "Yes, we'd be glad to have the bird!" Half an hour later, we presented the box to staff at Wildlife Rescue, filled out a form, and made a donation, too. That place is amazing, and we're glad to help support it.

As we walked back to our car, we looked around and saw rabbits, geese, and ducks freely roaming. In pens, a pot-bellied pig, white-tailed buck, goats, and so many more animals happily grazed.

Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Inc. is located on 187 acres near Kendalia and was founded in 1977 in San Antonio by Lynn Cuny. I met Lynn on a freelance assignment in the 1990s when her facility was located near Boerne. According to her Website, "Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation is widely recognized as a superior rehabilitation and sanctuary facility and is accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). It provides a permanent home for a variety of mammals (e.g., wolves, bears, big cats, and primates) and non-indigenous birds and reptiles. Every year, over 5,000 animals are brought to WRR, mostly from surrounding areas, but many from around the country; the majority of these were rehabilitated and released or given permanent sanctuary."

Their 24-hour hotline number: (830) 336-2725.

P.S. I'm going to call in a few days and check on our white wing.