It was time to head to Oklahoma for a trip to several state parks. The first day of the trip was to Norman, Oklahoma to pick up Claire and our granddog, Briar.
So on the drive up we detoured off I-35 because of traffic. This took us on Hwy 77 through an even more scenic route through the Arbuckle Mountains! Along this route are some signs that list the rock formations.
Of course, we stopped at Braum’s for lunch. In fact, this was my lunch. 🙂
Apparently we had brought a hitchhiker from home. Squish. It was ID’ed as a ground dwelling ant (Camponotus). According to Antwiki, “it an extremely large and complex, globally distributed genus. At present, more than 1000 species and nearly 500 subspecies belonging to 45 subgenera are described (Bolton, 2012) and it could well be the largest ant genus of all”. Thanks Diane!
The next day we were heading to our first park. Of course, there were plenty of wind turbines out the window.
We arrived at Boiling Springs State Park, our first park. This was our first encounter as we stepped out at the park. And it was a resident of the park unlike the ant hitchhiker above.
A close up!
Goodness was it flat! Claire looked in our Common Insects of Texas (Abbott and Abbott) in the True bug section. Narrowing it down to Flat Bug genera, Aradus species and Mezira species. Both are dorso-ventrally flat. However, the Mezira species has the first antennal segment swollen. This one did not, so that left it in the Aradus genus.
It was not long before we were checking out the park. Briar was thinking it was nice to get out of the truck. Claire stopped for a photo.
Grama grass!
Indeed it was a good start! And the park had some nice grasses as you can see in back.
Next, some very tall Big Bluestem!Whoa, this tree had huge fat bean pods! Moreover, it was a new one for me. According to BONAP, it is rare and in only two counties in Texas. However, it is common in Oklahoma. It is the Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioicus)!
Indeed, a big pod!
Next it was time for supper. So Briar gladly does her part with cleanup chores!
The moon was full! It certainly was a fine start for our adventure!
A good start! I wonder what happens next!! 😉
😂
Yum, ice cream for lunch. That is some big bluestem. Beautiful. Thanks for the tour.
I have always wanted to see a Kentucky coffee tree! Very cool!
Apparently Oklahoma is a good place to see it. 😉