LBJ Grasslands Update

Abandoned Building

Click on the photos

Leave a comment.

For other SWF posts,
see the SkyWatch site here.



Troy

Ft. Worth - Where the West Begins

Ft. Worth, Texas
Courthouse Tower
Driving down Main Street
Looking North

Have you been here?
Have you visited,
Friendly Texas Skies?

Ft. Worth's Motto - "Where the West Begins"

Leave a comment.

For other SWF posts,
see the SkyWatch site here.

Troy

The Drought is Over

SWF

The drought is over but Mother Nature has played a harsh trick on the best-laid plans of men. The boardwalk area of the Ft. Worth Nature Center and Refuge is now surrounded by fast-growing Sesbane (about 10' tall).

Click on the photo for a better look.

Compare this photo to an earlier photo and post(click here) during the drought.

Leave a comment.

For other SWF posts,
see the SkyWatch site here.

Troy

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LBJ National Grasslands

SWF

Todays post is to clear up a popular misconception about the National Grasslands in Texas. The Grasslands are not great expanses of grass as far as the eye can see. At least not today. The early settlers moved in with homesteading, farming and ranching. The establishment of national grasslands has saved old remnants and added to these by purchasing adjacent farms and ranches as they became available.

However, even in early history, the grasslands were/and are cut with rivers, streams, oxbow lakes, and wooded valleys(see photo below). White-tailed deer, small mammals, coyotes, bobcats, red fox, waterfowl, bobwhite quail, turkey, and songbirds thrive in the diverse habitats provided by the Grasslands. Largemouth bass, blue and channel catfish, and various sunfish species are common catches at the many lakes that dot the Grasslands' landscape.

A Wooded Valley Cutting Across the Grasslands
Photo from a small hill on the LBJ National Grasslands
You can see for miles under the clear sky!

Be sure to click on the photo and scroll to its bottom
to see some of the native grass.

As of 30 September 2007, the total area of all 20 National Grasslands(click here) was 3,843,037 acres (15,552 km2).
Click on the link and read the short article. It's really interesting.

Do you live near a native grassland or have you visited one?
Leave a comment.

For other SWF posts,
see the SkyWatch site here.

Troy

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Big Alligator

Question: What does a 12' Texas Alligator eat ?

Answer: Anything that he wants to !

We saw this big fella at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge near the town of Anahuac.

The nearby town of Anahuac has a Gatorfest. 13 footers have been recorded there. This one may have been that long, but I couldn't get a good estimate because the end of the tail was hidden. this photo was taken before Hurricane Ike. Unfortunately the Alligator population was decimated by the ocean surge of salt water that overran the Reserve.

Here's a link. Click here.

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Last Days of Summer

SWF

Where Sky meets Sand and Surf
Bolivar Peninsula

East of Galveston Texas
Pre-Hurricane Ike

I am posting this on the anniversary of Ike
and to honor the recovery efforts.

Comments appreciated.

For other SWF posts,
see the SkyWatch site here.

Troy

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LBJ National Grasslands

SWF

I'm posting a bit early as Martha and I have been busy lately working on our certification for 'Texas Master Naturalists'.

I have also been spending a fair bit of time working on our new nature blog "I C U Nature"(click here). It's a 'nature photography only blog' with lots of information included. Visit and leave a comment. Tell us what you think.

Now, for today's memories "lost under the sky"!
This old house is located on the National Grasslands of North Central Texas. It's a favorite spot for a day trip and only about an hour away. It's a great place for birding and seeing everything from Painted Buntings to Road Runners, not to mention Hawks soaring lazily overhead and Quail calling in the distance. Just the idea makes me want to go this weekend.

Lost under the Sky
With only Memories

(Click on the photo for a closer look)

Idea by Martha
Photo by Troy: Nikon D70

The Caddo and Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) National Grasslands are located in two areas northeast and northwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. They not only provide grazing land for cattle and habitat for wildlife, but offer a variety of recreation. The most popular activities are hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and photography.

White-tailed deer, small mammals, coyotes, bobcats, red fox, waterfowl, bobwhite quail, turkey, and songbirds thrive in the diverse habitats provided by the Grasslands. Largemouth bass, blue and channel catfish, and various sunfish species are common catches at the many lakes that dot the Grasslands' landscape.

The LBJ is comprised of more than 20,250 acres with one developed recreation area located at Black Creek Lake. The recreation area consists of seven picnic units, seven walk-in camp units, one improved boat ramp and an accessible fishing bridge. No drinking water is available. The lake is approximately 30 acres in size. The discharge of firearms and hunting is prohibited on and around the lake.

Cottonwood Lake, located 5 miles north of Black Creek Lake, is approximately 40 acres in size and has one improved boat ramp. No recreation facilities are provided. The discharge of firearms is prohibited in the vicinity of Cottonwood Lake. However, from November 1 through February 28, the use of shotguns, excluding slugs and buckshot, for legally hunting game birds and game animals during state designated seasons is permitted.

The Cottonwood-Black Creek Hiking Trail is 4 miles long and connects the two lakes. It is rated moderately difficult. There are nearly 75 miles of multipurpose trails which run in the Cottonwood Lake vicinity.

TADRA Point is a designated trailhead camping facility that is a primary access point for the 75 mile LBJ Multi-use Trail system. Only a few restrooms and parking facilities are provided.


For other SWF posts,
see the SkyWatch site here.

Troy

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Harris Hawk

SWF

King of the Sky Taking a Rest

Harris Hawk
Rio Grande Valley, South Texas

Please, leave a comment here and
Be sure to visit our new 'Nature Only' blog, named 'I C U Nature'.
Your opinion is important !!!
Tell us what you think about the format and appearance
of the new site at WordPress.

Click here to see I C U Nature.

For other SWF posts,
see the SkyWatch site here.

Troy

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Going to the Sun Road Glacier National Park

SWF

A really Favorite Drive.
One of the top 10 in the United States.
As listed by many magazines, and myself.

Click on the photos for a really magnificent vista !!

Lower section climbing out of the valley.
No travel trailers allowed on this road.


Middle section, well above the valley
Enlarge, and look at the pickup on the right,
for a sense of perspective.

These photos don't do justice to the scope of the view.

Near the summit


They have a magnificent Visitors Center
at the summit and some great trails.

Have you been there?
Leave a comment.

Note: all of these photos are "as photographed".


For other SWF posts,
see the SkyWatch site here.

Troy

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Eryngo

SWF

The sky makes a great background sometimes to see the detail of plants.

Eryngium leavenworthii

Be sure to click on the photo to see the detail.

There are a lot of different species of Eryngo, which may be found in nearly every state.

Distribution for leavenworthii

Range Map:
USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database . National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

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Please, leave a comment here and
Be sure to visit our new 'Nature Only' blog, named 'I C U Nature'.
Your opinion is important !!!
Tell us what you think about the format and appearance
of the new site at WordPress.

Click here to see I C U Nature.

For other SWF posts,
see the SkyWatch site here.

Troy

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Hot Texas Sun

SWF

It was hot this day, 100+ °F. in the shade.

I was on a Nature Hike at the Ft. Worth nature Center & Refuge with Michelle Villafranca. We were in the "Prairie Barrens" area and I was interested in studying the plant communities on the 'barrens' a little more closely. This photo is near the edge of a barrens area approaching some glades.

click on the photo for a better view

This photo is an example of a statement that I have said in previous posts. When you take a photo, try to remember not only what it looked like, but the weather, what birds you were hearing (titmice, or other sounds), time of day, what smells were in the air (dry hot grass in this instance), any breezes stirring the air, anything unusual about the geology, etc.. It will enhance the pleasure of viewing the photo later.

Note the characteristic color of 'Little Bluestem' on the left.

Google 'prairie barrens' for more information.

For other SWF posts,
see the SkyWatch site here.

Troy

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Wild foxglove

Digitalis is found in some
.
We were out looking for Celestial to photograph when we found this lone Wild Foxglove. Alas, the Celestials were long gone, but there were some interesting wildflowers and insects to photograph. More of these to come over the next few weeks. Click here to see last year's Celestial.

Click on the photo for a better view.
Leave a comment if you like the photo.

Penstemon cobaea Nutt.
Wild foxglove, Prairie penstemon, Foxglove penstemon, False foxglove, Large-flowered beardtongue, Large-flowered penstemon, Prairie beardtongue, Cobaea penstemon
Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)
USDA Symbol: PECO4
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

When in bloom, large, tubular flowers line at least half of cobaea beardtongue’s 1-2½ ft. stems. It is typically found on rocky, calcareous soils in the Hill country of Texas. The flowers are white with dark purple lines inside the floral tube. One to three stout stems rise from a woody rhizome and bear thick, 2-3½ in. paired leaves which become smaller up the stem. The leaves have a waxy, shiny luster and are coursely toothed. The lower leaves have often withered by the time of flowering.

Perennial

This penstemon attracts a variety of moths.

Ft. Worth Nature Center & Refuge, May 2, 2009.
Canon G10, f/4, 1/125 sec., ISO 100, 11:30 AM

REFERENCES:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Native Plant Database.

Marshall Enquist. 1987. Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country. Lone Star Botannical, Austin, TX, 275 pp.

PS: There is an interesting internet reference on digitalis obtained from two other species of Common Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, found here.

Troy and Martha

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My World Tuesday

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My World Texas,

Based in Ft. Worth, Texas

Today in Texas
Cowboy Boots


What do you do with your old Cowboy Boots here in Texas,
when they are all worn out?


Why you hang them out on the fence of course.....

Photograph taken in a light rain, cloudy day, from the inside of the car.

Click on the photo for a better look.

If you like the photo, leave a comment,
and scroll down and see some of the other Texas posts lately.

Please visit "That's my World" for other great places of the Earth.Troy & Martha

Harlequin Bug nymphs

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There is always one to take charge and be the leader.
Just out of the egg cases.

Murgantia histrionica

You have to click on the photo to see the story.

I believe he is saying, "Hey guys, come on, I see some small leaves up there that we can hide in".

Troy

Ft. Worth Nature Center Marsh

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Sky Watch
Looking for the Rain

120° Panorama

Boardwalk at the Marsh

Click on the photo and scroll back and forth
to see the receding water and drying marsh.

A skywatch for a serious reason. Looking for needed rain.

For other SWF posts,
see the SkyWatch site here.

Troy
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