Almost a Frog...

Our tadpoles are growing up. The one pictured above is almost a frog. He has his back and front legs and his tail is shrinking. He hasn't lost his gills yet either so he still breaths under water but that will change soon. Michael is so excited that he is going to have a Frog really soon. I am thinking these may be Leopard frogs due to the stripes on the legs, but then I don't know if Bullfrogs have stripes too, I've never taken a close look at a Bull Frog.

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A close encounter of the stinky kind...

While on my nature walk Sunday at Mom and Dad's ranch I ran into, well no I didn't run into him, but saw him before I ran into him, thank goodness...

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Silly skunk was so busy looking for food it never even saw me...I just stood there taking photos until I remembered their spray can go 20 + feet. When I went to walk away from him, he finally noticed me, lets just say I walked a little faster, lol...He put his tail up but didn't spray and I decided it was time to move on and find items that weren't quite so threatening.

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Spider Milkweed

Also known as Antelope horns due to the buds looking like the curved horn of a pronghorn antelope. This is one of the first Texas Wildflowers I looked up several years ago.

I had Julie, my horse, staying on a ranch out by New Davy Texas and saw this species of milkweed there. I thought it was so neat and very unusual and one I will never forget. I knew it was a type of Milkweed and that Monarch Butterfly caterpillars love milkweed. I haven't found it growing here around the house but I do see it often at my In-laws ranch.

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Love the close up...

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If you can believe it I am still working on my photos from Sundays nature walk. There were just so many wildflowers blooming and I couldn't help myself. Plus I've been working a few odd jobs out and away from the house and I'm so tired at night, ugh!

Slowly but surely I'll share my photos with you!

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Have you ever...

Looked eye to eye with a butterfly?

Sensitive Briar

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There are so many wildflowers and it's really hard to choose a favorite, they're all beautiful! But I can remember seeing this one when I was a child in plant nursery's for sale. My sister and I use to play with the leaves on them...touching them and watching them close up. Here they grow wild and I love to photograph the beautiful blooms (they remind me of fireworks), and playing with the leaves...Tonight I spotted some while driving down the driveway and later we went for a walk to find the sensitive plant I had seen. Michael wanted to see what I was talking about and I wanted to take photos!

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Isn't it gorgeous!! It's an explosion of color!

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Michael rubbing the leaves to close them up...I then caught him stomping on them with his feet, ekk! He said he wanted to see if they would all close up, lol Boys! He then noticed if you blew on them they would close up too...who knew something simple could be so much fun and I admit one of my favorite wild flowers!

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I was reading about the Sensitive Briar tonight and the reason the leaves close up is to protect them. If a deer or other animal starts browsing on it's leaves the leaves close up exposing the thorns on the leaves stalk and there for discouraging browsing, interesting!

Our toothless wonder and an evening walk...

Michael finally lost his top tooth which had been loose for the past 7 months, ekk...

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Playing with a sensitive plant...when you touch it it's leaves close up!

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Attempting to climb his tree...

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But wearing barn/rubber boots and climbing trees don't go well together!

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God paints beautiful photos..

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I found these today, WOW!!

This is just one of many photos I took today, so many flowers!

stay tuned I will be back with more photos from my nature walk!