Winter Along the Chaparral...


Before anyone who walks the trails in this park, the hikers go through the chaparral desert growth before making it to the bay waters. This week, I saw all the brown, dried, landscape of winter. Speaking of winter...we still have it. Yes, it was 80° for a high a few days back, but now as I type this up, it will not even reach 50°, and by Sunday the cold front moving in will bring us rain, sleet, freezing rain, and even snow along the coast! The predicted lows inland will be in the high teens!! Our meteorologist tells us viewers that this cold winter snap is the coldest in nearly 100 years. I'm thinking I won't go anywhere out and about, but hopefully our yard will be enhanced with some frosty photos!! lol

Okay, back to the chaparral. Here are some images I shot along the trails as I accumulated my step tally...




Mottled Ducks on Pond and Female Cardinal near the learning center building.

53 comments:

  1. The yellow flower is gorgeous!! Reminds me of a Mimosa or a Powder Puff bush, only yellow. It has been snowing really hard here, and in the teens. But I guess this is really unusual for texas. This will be a big shock to the birds there; I hope not many will die.

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    1. Highly unusual for this part of Texas.

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  2. The yellow flowers are very beautiful! Do you know their name?
    It is strange that the cold snap is spreading all over the world!

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  3. I don't know what that tree or bush is but it sure is pretty covered in all those yellow flowers.
    Stay warm this weekend

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    1. The blossoms are usually much heavier. I'm not looking forward to this cold snap.

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  4. Beautiful photos but my favorites are the pretty yellow flowers!

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    1. 🏡️🌻🌼🌻🏡️

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  5. That first photo of the grasses is beautiful, it looks like a painting!! What a wonderful walk, bright cheery yellow flowers and sweet birds all making one feel thankful to be alive. Have a lovely Valentine's day ~ FlowerLady

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    1. I thought it resembled a painting too

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  6. Such rustic beauty Anni.
    Your gorgeous photos make me want to walk there and listen to the wind and nature songs.
    We are below zero where I live. I will trade with you :)

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    1. OMG... below zero doesn't sound fun at all.

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  7. Magnificent photos! It's only 22 degrees here as I type this. With snow predicted on Sunday! I'd rather have the snow than ice as that is what we have now. Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Valentine's Day!

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  8. I love the yellow flowers too! Great photos Anni. Such unusual weather there, we've been getting warmer here but who knows if it will plunge back into the cold weather again here too.

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    1. ...wishin' for warmer weather right now! But a few months from now, I'll be wanting cold! lol

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  9. Oh what beautiful pictures, Anni!! Yes, I've heard about the cold being historic in Texas. I also heard about the horrible car pileup in your state, because of the weather. It needs to warm up where you are! Gotta leave the driving on icy roads to us up north here, who are used to it. ~Andrea xoxo

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    1. Being from Colorado, driving on snow & ice was even a challenge! I'm sure I'll stay indoors & off streets 'cause as you say, those in the south have no idea!

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  10. That yellow powder puff is exactly like our bright pink one and I've never seen a yellow and it's absolutely gorgeous. I did not know that there was a cold front coming now I'm wondering if it's going to come over this way. We're having summer weather here and have been for a week and the next 7 Days looks like it's going to be the same it's absolutely gorgeous

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    1. Right now, summer weather sounds awfully good.

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  11. The cold is certainly dipping low this time. I remember the white Christmas your area had a few years ago. That was also extremely unusual. Wonder if you will get a few flakes on Valentine's Day, too.

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    1. Maybe snow! Yes that snow on Christmas Eve was 2004. I remember it well...and got the biggest kick out if neighbors scooping it(1") while it was melting faster than they scooped

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  12. I love that cardinal photo. What a lovely place for a walk.

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    1. Thanks Nance. The cardinal was actually bathing (there is unseen water)

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  13. So glad you didn't let the briskness keep you from getting your steps in. Hope you take heed though for the worse to come. We are expecting snow Sunday and negative one degree Monday. Whee. Stay safe and warm.

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    1. Mmmmm, even the MINUS temp for you sounds terrible!

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  14. I loved south Texas winters. Nice warm weather and the occasional cold front. Stay warm!! Keep your faucetts dripping.

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    1. Well, this is not gonna be warm by any means...& you living in Victoria before, understand! Pipes are covered, patio plants have taken over all open space...indoors.
      πŸŒ΄πŸ’πŸŒ±

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  15. I like the comment "keep your faucets dripping." Ours have been dripping for over a week now and we even have high quality heat tape on all pipes. Hope you get through these cold times without incident! The yellow flower with fernlike leaves photo is beautiful!

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    1. Yep. It's something you have to do in cold climes during winter to keep them from freezing. I remember so well from our years in Colorado.

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  16. I'm glad you got your steps in while the weather wasn't too bad.
    Stay safe and warm inside..I'm so sorry for those that lost thier lives in that horrific accident on the icy road.
    Yesterday it rained all day ...today the sun is shining like crazy...I'm glad to see the bright orb in the sky.
    Sue

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    1. Texans don't know to slow down in these weather conditions.

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  17. Hi Anni...as always gorgeous photos. I'm quite fond of cardinals. Of course the male for obvious reasons and the female is a lovely shade mixed colors.
    I had a happy accident this noon. Passing by the dining room window I spotted a yellow-bellied sapsucker on the suet. Did some research they winter in the Southeast and summer in northeast and Canada.

    My B had his 2nd Pfizer on Monday, no problems. My 2nd Pfizer is Feb 22.
    I believe you had a birthday on Sunday. Seems I recall it is a month after mine. Happy belated birthday too.
    Hugs Cecilia

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    1. I sure appreciate you keeping me informed. On the vaccines!

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  18. Boy, you guys are getting some cold weather over there! What a awful accident too over by Fort Worth! We had a similar one on I-94 by Grand Rapids here a few years ago. 100 some odd cars crashed! The streets can be so scary! Stay warm my friend!

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    1. If drivers would use common sense on slick streets...there is always one tho ....

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  19. Beautiful photos. Love how the yellow flower pops out of the brown field.

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  20. These are beautiful Anni. Good luck with the weather. We will be under a winter weather watch tomorrow.

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  21. Beautiful sights. As I said on another blog comment, I am waiting for warmer temperatures so I can get out to photograph . It's hovering ab=round the -30 Celsius these days and that is just too much for this old body.

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  22. Weather sure different there then here. This morning it was 4 and I got up to about 20.
    Coffee is on and stay safe

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    1. I hope it's different. Too cold for me.

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  23. You have such pretty places to walk in!

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  24. Colors Colors And More Colors - Way Cool

    Cheers

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    1. Can't beat your beautiful blue sky tho!

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  25. I too love those yellow flowers!

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  26. When I saw that this cold snap is making it all the way down to your neck of the woods, I knew it was unusual. Love that pretty yellow flower, too. :-)

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    1. It's been years since this low cold temps have hit this far south.

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  27. What a great place you have to walk. That second shot really appeals to me...Our temp this morn was 0°, and I thin the high was 14....

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