...Won't you come on in? As Eddy Arnold used to sing...where there is an abundance of wildlife; from coyotes, rabbits, opossum, the dreaded snakes, birds that are permanent residents and migrating, lizards and anoles, turtles, insects from the nasty fire ants to the more beautiful butterflies year 'round, and more...
Along some of our foot travels, here are some we meet.
[and no, the two tortoise images that show red shell...it's NOT naturally red!! ---it's the glow from the heat lamp [at the Botanical Gardens] ...
...added thought: finally, after a long three year drought of no Spring or Summer rains, this year it's getting back to the normal foggy morning, misty days, and rains of Spring once again. And that all makes for some wonderful colors around the city!! Spring rains bring wildflowers abundant!! I love the dew drops from the morning mist on the rose blossoms!! And the field of Texas State Flower, the bluebonnets, I just had to get out of the car and make use of the cellphone's camera showing you the multitude of blue in town. Bud stopped to get gas for our lawn mower and while he was pumping gas, I walked a few feet from the station to the field that is adjacent to a Stripes convenience/gas corner store----
---of course, birds. A favorite of mine is the Northern Cardinal! Lately, I've only spotted the male. Guess the female may be nesting? Dunno for sure what's up with her absence, I know they both build the nest. But she has been elusive here of late!!!
linking to: Camera Critters - Saturday Critters - SUNLIT SUNDAY - WEEKLY TOP SHOT - PHOTO HUNT
Anni, I love the cute turtles, pretty butterflies and the lovely Cardinal. The field of flowers is just beautiful.. Wonderful post, thank you for linking up with Saturday's Critters.. Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDelete...thank YOU Eileen.
Deletegreat collages and the northern cardinal, a big bonus
ReplyDelete...thanks Carole
DeleteWonderful set of images. Flowers are beautiful.
ReplyDelete...thank you kindly Rajesh.
DeleteAnni, you always have the most beautiful photographs! I love all the places that you are behind that camera lens! The flowers, birds, critters, all just amazing and your photography is just brilliant! That orange butterfly, wow! The red cardinal, double wow! The bluebonnets are just gorgeous! Well, i could go on and on!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day~
Nancy
...why thank you so much Nancy!!! Your kindness means a lot to me.
DeleteAnnie,
ReplyDeleteLooks like you have had fun taking pictures!
...that I do, I take tons of them. lol
DeleteI've always wanted to see Texas and the beautiful wild flowers I've heard it has. I've only been across the panhandle.
ReplyDelete...oh do come down...this time of year is the best time for wildflowers!!
DeleteWhen the male cardinal started visiting the feeders at the beginning of winter, I only saw him for a few weeks and then finally the missus came along...
ReplyDelete...it must just be the nature of the creature then.
DeleteOh, he's a beauty all right. She's probably sitting on the nest, don't you think? Love your pretty flowers and birds, Anni. Always a pleasure to come visit you. :-)
ReplyDelete...thanks DJ....and yep, I think she's nesting too. At least I hope so, and that nothing happened to her.
DeleteI'm glad to hear you are getting spring rains. Enjoyed the turtles. All those flowers make me jealous, not even a bud in my yard yet. And of course that Cardinal is a beauty!
ReplyDelete...the area is loaded this year, with flowers. I'm so enjoying it. Just hope it continues to improve with the rains this year. Y'never know.
DeleteDearest Anni; Wow, what a varieties of critters♡♡♡ The turtle look so rare "just guessing" p;) Love the marvelous looking cardinal and beautiful flowers!
ReplyDeleteSending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
...that one turtle with the red spots is not from around this country, but caged in the gardens...from South America I believe. Thanks for commenting and visiting today Miyako
DeleteThe yellow rose struck my fancy - big time! Love your turtles too. I can hardly wait for the bloomin' flowers! Your pictures remind me of a favorite quote:
ReplyDelete“If you truly love nature,
you will find beauty everywhere.”
Vincent Van Gogh
...that quote is quite fitting for the two of us, don't you think? We both like nature. My father's favorite rose was the yellow kind also.
Deletewe've not had one bluebonnet or indian paintbrush appear here yet. you're way ahead of us. :) i like the tortoises. cute!
ReplyDelete...when things around here begin to dry up withe the heat [it was in the 90s here, yesterday]....your turn will come!!!
DeleteSuch beautiful pictures! I enjoy seeing the flowers and birds through your lens.
ReplyDelete...thanks Mari. You touch my heart strings when you leave such positive feedback!!
DeleteGreat bunch of photos. Love the tortoise.
ReplyDelete...thanks Pat
DeleteVery creative photos and presentation ~ love the cardinals ~ Happy Weekend,
ReplyDeleteartmusedog and carol
...thanks Carol
DeleteLot's of beautiful blooms! It's nesting season around here, not seeing many females.
ReplyDeleteI see Stoney has been foolin' 'round too!!
DeleteIt is always so uplifting to visit your blog! Beauty jumps out at me as soon as I begin to scroll!! Thank you for sharing all that you see!!
ReplyDeleteWhy, thank you Terri!! Your kind words made my day.
DeleteLots of wonderful things to see here. Enjoying them all.
ReplyDelete...thanks Lina
DeleteBeautiful images, wish we had birds like that around here. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDelete...thanks Jane. The cardinal is a year 'round resident here in South Texas.
DeleteLove the Cardinal. That's one bird we don't see out here in Coastal BC. - Margy
ReplyDelete...thanks Margy. I bet you get to see the Blue Jays...wishing they were down here. lol
DeleteWhat a fun time you must have had capturing this delightful mix of flora, animals and birds. Hope you're having a great weekend. Greetings, Jo
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a great weekend Jo...thanks!
DeleteThe cardinal is very handsome in his brilliant red. You have captured some great critters and beautiful flowers but you know the little squirrel is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a great weekend Anni.
Now why does that not surprise me?!! lol
DeleteHave a great weekend too!
Cute critters and beautiful flowers. I'm glad you're finally getting some rain. Enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDelete...thanks Gunilla. Enjoy your weekend also.
DeleteYou make me want to come and visit! We have nothing like this yet, nary a flower or bug. Your orange butterfly on the red flowers is so beautiful. Two colors we would never wear together, yet God makes them work amazingly. I also love the orange butterfly with spots. All your beautiful flowers are simply amazing! I am still waiting to see even one.
ReplyDeleteCome on down Ginny....this time of year is best to visit y'know. :-)
DeleteThere is an abundance of beauty in this post. I of course enjoy seeing all the birds,but the flowers are gorgeous as well.
ReplyDelete...thanks Ruth....loved your hawk images today.
DeleteAh, flowers! I remember flowers. Soon we'll have some here, I think.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, yesterday the temp soared to near 90 degrees!
DeleteAnni your world is gorgeous....colors so crisp!
ReplyDeleteI was amazed at the hawk. It had to be a juvenile it landed awkwardly. Then squealed to the top of his lungs a if to say look mom I did it! I also got a video of it's puny voice.
Hugs
Cecilia
....now that hawk was just something to behold. right in your very own backyard no less.
DeleteHi I Cardinals and both of your lovely flower and critter colagess
ReplyDelete...thanks Margaret.
DeleteBeautiful! I've never see those colorful turtles before.
ReplyDeletewhich ones Lois?
DeleteBeautiful photos! I'm seeing lots of male cardinals at the ranch too with no females. Humm? As for your question, no the wild hogs are completely different from the javelinas. The wild hogs grow to a huge size and do damage to the land with their rooting. They aren't above eating a small calf if they find it alone. John and I trapped them the fourteen months we lived on the ranch and hauled them to Devine, Texas to sell to a company that ships the meat all over.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, never knew this.
DeleteThe flowers are pretty but I particularly love your critter shots! :)
ReplyDelete...critters are always fun to view and watch and photograph and share.
DeleteNice cardinals - not often that we see some of the same birds in the same month!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
I know AZ has a lot of cardinals!!! [and a football team. lol]
DeleteThe wildflowers are so pretty and the cardinal which is rarely seen in Singapore is a beauty.
ReplyDelete...glad you paid me a visit then!! Thanks.
DeleteBeautiful! The cardinal is one of my favorites too. I just wish the bluejay was a little nicer to them. Nice photos to cheer us on another winter day!
ReplyDelete...thanks, glad you enjoyed this post of Spring photos.
DeleteGreat pictures! I'm sure mama cardinal is staying on the nest right now. He will bring her food and help with the little ones.
ReplyDeleteYa, I've watched the couple for several seasons...but the female isn't anywhere here this year. I'm wondering if they're nesting in someone else's yard this time 'round.
DeleteI love your Spring colors. Great photographs.
ReplyDeletethanks Yogi...glad you enjoyed our Texas Spring.
DeleteThose Cardinals are amazing
ReplyDelete...thanks Adam, glad you enjoyed the scarlet birds today.
DeleteSo many sweet critters you have!! I look forward to butterflies and dragonflies returning soon. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
xo Catherine
...if your garden is thawing out now...soon you'll enjoy all the sights of Spring.
DeleteLove that turtle with his little mouth open. Looks like he's trying to tell us something!
ReplyDelete...indeed. I think it wants more food.
DeleteThanks, Hootin' Anni, for sharing such a variety of flora and fauna at Sunlit Sunday this week. I now know your state flower! (In the interest of a fair exchange of info, the provincial flower here is the white trillium.)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for participating this year and bringing some of the Lone Star State north!
Karen
...thank YOU Karen. See you next winter.
DeleteI LOVE bluebonnets. Unfortunately, I have been told Virginia doesn't have the right climate for it to thrive here. :(
ReplyDelete...but VA has its glory in so many other ways!! If we all had bluebonnets, the world would be boring...right?
DeleteWonderful place to visit. Some great critters, I like the Tortoise and the Butterflies. - Always great to see beautiful flowers too.
ReplyDelete...thanks Ida.
DeleteReally, beautiful captures, Anni!! you found nice place to visit and to get photos..
ReplyDelete...thanks!
DeleteI am so glad you are getting rain. Yay for spring and all her pretty colors. Love the butterflies and turtles and other captures, but special for me are the bluebonnets. How I miss Texas bluebonnets!
ReplyDelete...we need MORE rain. The bluebonnets are astounding this year.
DeleteBeautiful photos! I'm so happy spring is approaching! Not here yet!
ReplyDelete(ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!
...let's just hope, for the wildlife, that it'll soon be all over and they'll find something to eat soon in your part of the globe.
DeleteTotally awesome pictures.
ReplyDelete...thanks Denise
DeleteI love it when I see that Hootin Annie is back in the hunt!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos ~ always a smile.
...thanks.
Delete