Picture This Photo Contest “The End of the Line”
Here is my entry for November’s “The End of the Line” Picture This Photo Contest at http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=9088#more-9088 Okay so it is a curvy line!  A line of Pride of Barbados seedpods are ready to drop their final young in a last ditch attempt to propagate themselves for next year. Like dug-out canoes, these seedpods are providing a safe harbor for these precious, year-end cradled seeds. Read Full Story
“CUT”!
Syrphid Fly? or Waspy, green, grass-hoppery weird bee thingy, summat or nothin’? This adult Syrphid Fly (I hope I am right with this identification) is unlike any I have ever seen in the Patch…It is green! What manner of creature is he trying to mimic? Most Hoverflies mimic bees and wasps to protect themselves from predators, this one even had a “buzz” sound as it flew around, trying to be even more convincing…but green? I know it is a fly as it has only two w... Read Full Story
“A Patch-Work Orange”
Fragrant Mist Flower
Ghost House I DWELL in a lonely house I know That vanished many a summer ago, And left no trace but the cellar walls, And a cellar in which the daylight falls, And the purple-stemmed wild raspberries grow. O’er ruined fences the grape-vines shield The woods come back to the mowing field; The orchard tree has grown one copse Of new wood and old where the woodpecker chops; The footpath down to the well is healed. Image taken from jipol’s Flickr photostream under the creative commons a... Read Full Story
“Panic in the Patch”
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“Hit the button! Hit the button, now!” Panic is setting in, in the patch. My eyes are being called upon to be extra critical… what needs to be changed?  What would a set of fresh eyes see?  More importantly what would a camera lens see?  Is the lens forgiving?  Perhaps there is a camera “weed” filter for the camera?  Linda, tell me this exists? The ESP is scheduled for a “Central Texas Gardener” film shoot shortly, and the Botox lady is very pleased ... Read Full Story
“Purple Rain”
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“Oh come on ESP…a REAL grasshopper”? “That’s right ‘Hopper’, and I can pull that CAD face too, look!  Oh, and if you bully those ants one more time”? I caught the real thing lurking in the subterranean environment deep inside one of my large agaves. Is he squinting his beady eye at me? This character jumped onto one of my decomposed granite walkways, this shot highlights his camouflage capabilities: A master of disguise! I tried and tried ... Read Full Story
“On the Bonnie Banks, the sequel”
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No trip to Scotland would be really complete without a trip to a castle or ten, would it? Whatever you do, do not look up there! I did warn you!… getting tarred, a common inconvenience of the medieval day. This stronghold is called Caerlaverock Castle I have been to this castle many times, the first time on a school outing! With its moat, twin towered gatehouse and imposing formidable red sandstone battlements, Caerlaverock Castle is the epitome of the medieval stronghold.  The... Read Full Story
“On the Bonnie Banks, the sequel”
edwardi-cassell2
No trip to Scotland would be really complete without a trip to a castle or ten, would it? Whatever you do, do not look up there! I did warn you!… getting tarred, a common inconvenience of the medieval day. This stronghold is called Caerlaverock Castle I have been to this castle many times, the first time on a school outing! With its moat, twin towered gatehouse and imposing formidable red sandstone battlements, Caerlaverock Castle is the epitome of the medieval stronghold.  Th... Read Full Story
Picture This Photo Contest “Abundant Harvest”
Green Crab Aples
Here is my entry for October’s “Abundant Harvest” Picture This Photo Contest at http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=8318 ‘Malus x robusta’ (Red Sentinel)  Crab apple. One of the most ornamental crab apples, with pretty, pink-tinged, white flowers in late spring, followed by masses of glossy, round, cherry-red fruit. The fruits garland the branches for much of the winter as the bright green leaves turn shades of yellow and gold before falling. Here is the golden fruitin... Read Full Story
Picture This Photo Contest “Abundant Harvest”
Green Crab Aples
Here is my entry for October’s “Abundant Harvest” Picture This Photo Contest at http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=8318 ‘Malus x robusta’ (Red Sentinel)  Crab apple. One of the most ornamental crab apples, with pretty, pink-tinged, white flowers in late spring, followed by masses of glossy, round, cherry-red fruit. The fruits garland the branches for much of the winter as the bright green leaves turn shades of yellow and gold before falling. Here is the golden fruitin... Read Full Story
Picture This Photo Contest “Abundant Harvest”
Crab Apples
Here is my entry for October’s “Abundant Harvest” Picture This Photo Contest at http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=8318#more-8318 Malus x robusta ‘Red Sentinel’ Crab apple. One of the most ornamental crab apples, with pretty, pink-tinged, white flowers in late spring, followed by masses of glossy, round, cherry-red fruit. The fruits garland the branches for much of the winter as the bright green leaves turn shades of yellow and gold before falling. Here is a green fruitin... Read Full Story