Return to HIW... 08-05-2022

It really seems like forever since I was in the Sanctuary. My last trail duty was on July 15th- three weeks ago. I skipped two Fridays thanks to the blessing of Covid. Today was nice and cool, but I was running out of reserves towards the end. Fortunately, I ran into Pamela Ball and Sister Cindy at the benches. Pamela had her beautiful dog Nandi with her. It was a nice relaxing visit that I usually don't have after duty. The Sanctuary came through with lots of wonderful sights. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do.

This is a different Passion Flower than the one I usually take photos of. iNaturalist calls it a Stinking Passionflower, but I didn't notice a smell.

I saw two armadillos today. This one was on the trail along Olmos Creek about level with the gymnasium. The armadillos here aren't as tame as the ones in the state parks. The second they feel or hear you, they take off. In the state parks, they just act like you are there. You can get right up on them. Isn't he the cutest thing you've ever seen?

I take the Grotto for granted these days. But, I like to remember that this is where my relationship with Headwaters at Incarnate Word began. I helped dig out all the old non-native plants and replant the area with Texas Natives. I would show up super early and just meditate before the other volunteers arrived.

I have actually had dreams in which I am exploring this beautiful mansion. Every angle makes a perfect shot.

The trumpet vine on the walkway from the Villa to the Blue Hole is still going strong.

By now you all know that I am totally enamored with Alamo Vines. I just can't get over the thought that these look like delicate wooden flowers hand-carved by a expert Chinese craftsman. My mom had some wooden flowers that were similar that she bought in Taiwan.

I love how the seed pods look from the other side, as well.

Are you feeling it with me, yet?

This has fascinated me for a while now. It looks like a well planned museum piece. I love it.

Even with the drought, the colors of the trails are amazing. The golds and browns are hard to accept, but really are beautiful.

This just calls out to me, "Take my picture!"

This is a recently cleared area. Eventually a healthy native undergrowth will fill it in.

Sometimes I can't resist taking a shot of the trail. This was one of those times. I wish you could see it in its true light and colors.

The Queen Butterflies were all over the Gregg's Blue Mistflower today.

They are making improvements. There will be a large mulched outer ring, and a much nicer entrance path.

You can see how much bigger this area will be by looking at the ditch.

This is Beauty Berry. It will be much prettier next week when the berries are more purple.

I'm going to say this is Scarlet Beeblossom. It looks just like the ones that grow along the road near my house.

These daisies were so bright in the sun that I couldn't resist taking their picture.

This is Red Yucca. For some reason, it makes me think of Japan, but it is a Texas native.

They are redeveloping the Circle of the Springs to create a nice path around it for visitors. It will have huge stone benches and a larger rock border. I can't wait to see it.

This is a Kingbird. They are flycatchers just like Phoebes. In fact, I thought this was a Phoebe, but iNaturalist said it was a Kingbird.

This Loggerhead Shrike was hanging out with the Flycatcher above. One would move and the other would follow. This is the first one I have seen at Headwaters. He is also known as the Butcher Bird because he likes to catch small creatures and impale them as decorations to impress a potential mate.

There were Queen Butterflies all over the Button Bush today.

I think this is a Desert Globemallow. It is a mallow for sure.

American Bumble Bees were practically swarming these beautiful Obedient Plants. I took hundreds of pictures, but only posted three. I have many more that are equally as good.

This monster is a Mexican Carpenter Bee. He is at least twice as big as am American Bumble Bee.

I love this picture. Can you spot all 4 bees? There's the big Mexican Carpenter Bee, there are two American Bumble Bees, and there is a tiny little unidentified bee in the lower middle part of the photo.

This is Sacred Datura. I have featured it before. Today, I learned more about it from Pam. She told me that all of its parts are poisonous. She put it in the Circle of the Springs garden for the bats. Evidently they like it.

It looks so pretty up against a background of Rock Rose. This doesn't quite capture that.

These will eventually become the seed pods. They turn dark brown. I am fascinated by them.

This is a view of the Great Oak trail just as you come off the Great Oak Spur.

Did you know that in Texas, it is illegal to pick up any kind of raptor feathers and take them with you? The State simplifies possession of wildlife artifacts that way, rather than argue with you over whether or not you killed the animal to get them. You have to have a special license to have them. I really wanted to put this one in my hat.