The Nature of Things

This year, as every year does, held challenges for the gardener. And yet, in spite of uncooperative weather, a plague of weeds and occasionally insects - not to mention garden "helpers" who didn't always follow instructions - it turned out to be not an entirely bad year in the garden. Here are some of my favorite pictures from each month. In January, the Christmas poinsettias were still in full bloom. I do love the sweet little leucojum blossoms that brighten dull February. By March, the redbud was in full bloom, a cafeteria for bees. April is amaryllis month. This frilly one held hidden treasure between petals of its blossom - a little green treefrog. Love those eyes! In May, the water lilies began blooming. And by June the crocosmias were finishing up their blooming.  What would July be without sunflowers and bumblebees enjoying them? By August, the blossoms of the beautyberry had begun ripening into its eponymous berries. Bright coral vine blossoms covered this section...

One of my goals for 2016 is to work on improving my bird photography. I can't claim any outstanding shots of birds in 2015, which is one of the reasons I know I need to improve! The birds were there; I just didn't always capture them with my camera.  Nevertheless, good or bad, here are some of my favorite pictures that I featured in the blog throughout the year. A regular visitor to the backyard in January was this Cooper's Hawk . I photographed this Common Gallinule on a trip to Brazos Bend State Park in February. By March, the American Goldfinches were beginning to get their new feathers, changing into their colorful courting duds. In April, the first of the Baltimore Orioles showed up. The Northern Mockingbird is always here, in May and throughout the year, the sentinel of the backyard. A female Eastern Bluebird checking on her chicks in June. Another permanent resident, the Blue Jay , in July.  By August, the first of the fall migrants were coming through. This Bla...

The end of the year is a time for reflection, for looking back over the year almost gone and remembering. As a part of that process, I've been reviewing some of my blog posts of 2014 and the pictures that accompanied many of them. Here are some of my favorites, most of them from my own backyard. January - American Goldfinche s were everywhere in the garden and at the feeders, still dressed in their winter drab. February - The leucojums, one of my favorite spring bulbs, were blooming.  March - I saw and photographed my first Giant Swallowtail butterfly of the year in the garden. April - Many of the amaryllises were in blossom. May - The Eastern Bluebirds were already busy with their first family of chicks for the year. The first of three. June - The Echinaceas were in full flower. July - Dragonflies in many colors were everywhere! They filled the air of the garden in the late afternoons.   August - The beautyberries were already ripening and the Northern Mockingbirds ...