Texas Mountain Laurel buds - Sophora secundiflora - click image for detail
Grape flavor Kool Aid is the olfactory surprise that accompanies the February blooms of the Texas Mountain Laurel. It ranges in size from a small shrub to a small tree depending on conditions. The bright red seeds give it another common name, Mescal Bean.
Viola missouriensis - Violet - click image for detail
A volunteer that appeared in my yard last year, blooming again.
Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae - click for larger image
This butterfly is probably a little far north than it should be in January. Perched here on Gregg Dalea, either to allow its wings to dry, or to feed on the few blossoms it found. It stayed still the whole time I was taking pictures of it and the Dalea greggii, so my guess is the former. The passion flower vines that it usually feeds on are dead and I recently cut them back so as to keep the HOA happy with appearances…
Horsemint - click image for detail
This remnant of a native plant retains its unique form even though the blooms have long since faded.
Solanum elaeagnifolium - Silverleaf Nightshade fruit - click image for detail
Amongst the bastard cabbage (invasive non-native) out in the field at the planned Blackland Heritage County Park were plenty of Silverleaf Nightshade remnants, adding a bright yellow accent to the green of the grass. Their distinctive blue to purple flowers won’t show up until April and should last through September or thereabouts.
Sonchus sp. - Sow Thistle - click image for detail
Sow-Thistle grows from 1/2 to 2 ft. high. Originally introduced from Europe.
Photo taken at the future Blackland Heritage County Park site in Williamson County. This weed blossoms throughout the year, and is an annual rather than a perennial
Although most of the Turks Cap have lost their greenery, this twig next to the house seems to find it still warm enough to be sending out the solitary bud, which is slowly but surely opening. Will try to track its progress from bud to bloom.
Malvaviscus Arboreus - Turks Cap (click for detail)
Salvia greggii - Autumn Sage (click for detail)
Recent rains and mild temperatures have coaxed the Autumn sage into winter blooms in apparent profusion, posing here for a group photo.
Silverleaf Nightshade fruit (click for detail)
These little fruits are still hanging in there. Took a walk in the greenbelt behind the house and didn’t find much – nothing in bloom. These fruits are toxic, by the way. But they are more photogenic than deer scat.
Salvia regla - Mountain Sage (click for larger image)
These long tubular flowers attract hummingbirds. Normally they bloom from July through October, but this was photographed here in December. It’s been an extreme year weather-wise, and a number of native plants are blooming out of season now that we’ve gotten over four inches of rain in December.
bob's brain: living well with a movement disorder and other comorbidities 