Welcome to my nature blog! I love sharing my photos of North Texas! I will keep looking out and hope you do too.
Comments welcome. Thank you, Mary
Galls on plants are caused by a variety of insects such as aphids, midges, wasps, or mites. In addition, sometimes galls are formed by infections by bacteria, fungi, or nematodes and are difficult to tell apart from insect-caused galls. Most of the insect galls do little to no harm to a healthy tree. And some…
While watching this YouTube video, Botanical Field trip at Saxon Park the other day, I came across this term, coma. So usually when I hear the term coma, I think of the definition as “a state of deep unconsciousness that lasts for a prolonged or indefinite period, caused especially by severe injury or illness.” This…
The Purple Pineapple has started to bloom! I have described this wonderful plant the purple pineapple before I even knew that others had called it that before me. And what an apt description of the Leavenworth’s Eryngo (Eryngium leavenworthii)! Keep looking! The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the…
Jeanne asked me how Shirley found these specific spots. Regretfully, I never thought to ask or I have forgotten. I do know that she often went exploring like Jeanne and I do now. In addition, sometimes people would tell her about unusual plants that they had, had seen, or needed identified. In fact, that is…
Robber flies are of the order of Diptera (Flies). They only have one set of wings like all flies. All in the family Asilidae (Robber Flies) are predators of other insects. They are aerial hunters. In fact, I watched one try twice unsuccessfully try to catch a Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus). There are…
I was up at 5:30am with Gracie this morning. I had hoped to see a shooting star or two. But no luck 🙁 Hope more than a few of y’all got some of the rain yesterday. Rain amounts around here ranged from barely wet (.1″) to 1.25″. Here we got the .24″ and was very…
Yesterday, while out looking at the Greeneyes, I came across this beautiful wasp. It was the Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)! Of course I wanted to know more about it. Holey cow we got rain! And I had just told Claire no way would we be getting any. Jeanne washed her windows too. Maybe…
I bet everyone is buzzing about the chances of rain, eh! I sure have my fingers crossed. However, a lot of our wildlife and plants are prepared to carry on. Sure not all will make it which of course is sad. Citizen Science Leads to Discovery of New Wasp Species on Garden Grounds Jumping spiders…
So this post will conclude Friday’s DA Tour. And it was a fine day with my fellow adventurer! Thank you! A wonderful day to be in the field for a DA tour! Rare plants attract rare bees and birds in urban gardens Researchers reveal how an insect-eating plant uses rain energy to power its trap…