Random Photos - Happy New Year!

Hi all, Dianne here.   These photos didn't really fit into our last few blogs, so here are some random photos for a pretty new year!


One of the things I hated most about living up north was how everything was either brown or gray five months out of the year (gray skies, brown vegetation).  It was pretty after a new fluffy snow, but even the snow turned ugly after a few days.

No problem like that here in South Texas!   These are some shots of flowers Roger and I took walking Bandido on the bike trail leading to the state park next door.

We've had some gray, drizzly days recently, but that just means more flowers.

Now I understand why they call this part of Texas the "Texas Tropics"!  This is a flower from my Mexican olive tree.  The butterflies love them.

In fact, all of the plantings in our neighborhood and the surrounding Bentsen Palm development were chosen to attract butterflies and birds.

That philosophy of "Living in Harmony with Nature" is one reason Roger and I knew we'd found the right place for us.

This one's a little blurry, but I love the look anyway.  Someday I'll get a better camera with a good zoom lens.

The small yellow flower in one of the above photos  blooms on huge Esperanza shrubs that tower over us as we walk along.


Here's another shot to brighten a gloomy winter day:

This is a rare black-vented oriole which hangs out mainly at the state park next door, but occasionally pops over to get a snack at my feeders.   Again, I need a better camera!  Here's a link to an article written last year about this rare bird, with better photos.  We all assume this is the same bird that visited our area last winter, since it is so rare.


Rare Bird Sighting

The pet photo of the day shows Bandido and Charlie enjoying a beautiful afternoon outside.   Don't worry, bird lovers, Charlie can't reach the rare oriole!