Walking in the rain...*

It was not our intent to walk in the cold, blowing rain, but the mist started as we were on the way to the wildlife area and we refused to turn around.

The prairie is lush and green. Wildflowers take turns dominating. Now the Prairie Bishop's-Weed blankets many areas. Thistles and yucca are blooming. The Texas Prairie Stars continue to bloom and disguise other yellow flowers in the fields. Prickly poppies are blooming - their plants line one of the trails and I was glad for thick jeans today.

The speargrass is thick all across the entire area.

But today was a day for the bugs. Perhaps the weird cool weather (in the 50s this morning) slowed them down. I was able to get many images as they were not moving away from the crazy woman with the cell phone (I loaned the camera for a few days and so borrowed DH's phone.**)

So, the walk took the normal route. We headed across the meadows towards the creek. We would find and lose the trails as the grasses are thick now. DH walked ahead and dogs wandered between us. We did skip the bluebonnet clearing in the woods today. We had started to get wet (from ankles to above the knees) because the rain transferred from plants to people as we pushed our way through the lushness.

The creek still ran muddy from recent rains. It is sometimes hard to believe how green everything is. The "dead and dry" look of winter was all a sham. This almost insane growth was hiding - waiting for a little rain and warm weather.

We can tell other people are coming out to the area as we found new broken (and unbroken) clay pigeons from skeet shooting were evident near the entrance. But once one is fifty feet from the gate, much of the human trash is covered, for now.

We will keep coming back as long as we can manage the trails and this explosive growth. I hope we can see the succession of wildflowers through fall.

 Insects and flowers and dogs and such (these photos are unedited and not enhanced. Sorry, I will be cropping some and may add a few later):

DH struggled a bit with the pups. Here you see some of the trash where folks shoot targets near the entrance.

Most of the yuccas were moving toward full bloom.

Spittle bugs are still everywhere. I don't know what this plant is, but will continue to watch it.

Finally, a fire wheel (gaillardia) blooming among the Prairie Bishop's-Weed.

See how green and lush.

A few bluebonnets are scattered among the grass and other flowers.

What's this?

Red, white and blue

I am not convinced we were on a path here.

It looks like a wedding.

Swaths of Prairie Bishop's-Weed.

First thistle I saw blooming.

Indian paintbrushes hiding amid the grass.

I bent over to grab this purple flower (I mentioned this a walk or two ago as resembling Irish Bells) and saw this dragonfly sheltering from the rain.***

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Verbena among the speargrass.

Prickly poppies about to bloom.

Bugs in the poppy bloom.

Another poppy showing speargrass all around (I am not lying - speargrass was everywhere).

The creek - beautiful green banks, but muddy waters (downstream). If you look closely you can see the rain drops causing ripples on the water's surface.

Upstream. Look at the woods on the other side of the creek - positively Hudson River School look.****

Scruffy jumped right in.

Paddy took off down the path, but we called her back.

Thorny brambles.

I don't know these beetles. They were not only in the poppies.

How many wildflowers do you see?

Punk thistle just starting to bloom.

Thistle bloom.

Another beetle.

True bugs.

DH made this path.

Crow-poison

More little purple flowers.

Texas Prairie Star

We're coming, Mother.

He looks like he's laughing at me.

Beautiful mix of flowers.

Ladybugs are still present on the prairie.

Tiny little flower.

I have now clue. I am calling it DYF (little yellow composite).

This is about to bloom, but I wasn't sure what it is.

I kept trying to get a clear photo of the blooms, but I ended up loving this photo of the thorns against the clouds.

DH and Scruffy heading to the entrance.

Silver-leaved nightshade (my favorite toxic flower as I know it in all stages!)

Maybe not as striking as a field of bluebonnets, but still lovely.

This milkweed by the path is fully blooming now.

More true bugs, I do believe.

The plums are bigger - now the size of the end of my little finger.

This is the first yucca fully blooming.

One of 4 I picked up.

NOTES:

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBBys5TLxCI (Walking in the Rain with the Ronettes).
**It is a good camera, but downloading is long and mindless work.
***The quality of the photos from this phone was amazing. I am almost won over.
****http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_River_School

OK, this is a fake. He was in our yard, but I wanted to save him somewhere. We saw him as we loaded the car.