JohnRich 4 #1 June 23, 2006 I took a weekend off from skydiving a few weeks ago to go bag another Texas State Park. Lost Maples State Natural Area is west of San Antonio, Texas, smack dab in the middle of the state of Texas. The park is about 2,000 acres in Texas "hill country", with numerous twisting limestone ridges about 500-feet high, separated by valleys with creeks. Here’s one accurate internet description: “an inspiring mixture of sheer limestone cliffs, deep canyons, dense woodlands, and numerous clear streams.” See photo LM_Scenary1s. The rocky hills are covered with brush and small trees, and there are creeks and springs down in the valleys between hills. Down below, you can see a pond backed-up behind a man-made dam. Next, a couple of the water holes deep in the woods. The first one had small fish and turtles, and the second had spring water trickling out of the rock to my left into the waterhole, and huge tadpoles as big as my thumb. See photos LM_Water2s, and LM_Water3s. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisamariewillbe 1 #2 June 23, 2006 Can you post directions from 35 South? I cant find directions and thats prettier then Barton CreekSudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #3 June 23, 2006 So the first question you have, of course, is; “How did these maple trees get lost?” Was a female tree in charge of leading the grove? Did she make the mistake of asking a male tree for directions? The answer to that question goes back millions of years… This park contains Texas’ largest pocket of Canadian bigtooth maple trees. This variety of maple tree is usually found much further north in colder climates. Eons ago when a glacier covered Texas, these trees migrated south with the cold, wet climate. Then when the glacier later receded, most of the bigtooth maples died out in the now-warmer climate of the South. This park is one of the few places where the trees now survive in sheltered canyons that harbor a moist, relatively cool, microclimate, different from the surrounding dry, hot conditions. So that’s how the maple trees got lost! They were really more like “left behind”. So what the heck is a “bigtooth” maple tree? Well, here’s what the leaves look like (photo LM_Maples below). They’re a little different from other types of maples. I’m guessing that the name “bigtooth” comes from the more pronounced spikes on these leaves. Speaking of tadpoles, here are a couple of denizens of the water holes. Photos: LM_Frog1s & LM_Frog3. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #4 June 23, 2006 QuoteCan you post directions from 35 South? I cant find directions and thats prettier then Barton Creek Here's the web site: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/lost_maples/ See: "Directions" for the map. I haven't seen Barton Creek yet. So many places, so little time off... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisamariewillbe 1 #5 June 23, 2006 Oh its awesome, but the water is hella cold... about 68 ish degrees year round.... Its on the green belt in austinSudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #6 June 23, 2006 This was a beautiful spot, with an overhanging cliff face over a shallow creek, draped with ferns, and even a couple of stalactites hanging from the top: After departing, I ran into a couple just downstream that were turning around because the woman didn’t like getting mud on her shoes (sissy!). I convinced them to continue upstream for at least another 200 yards so that they could enjoy this nice spot. Photo: LM_Woods1s Beware of the troll living under the rock! Photo: LM_Woods2s A side-canyon dry-creek bed, with mottled shade, and limestone plate pour-offs: Near this spot I had the pleasure of watching a humming bird flit about for about a minute, before disappearing. He was all gray in color, and his wings were beating so fast, they were just a blur. Too brief to get a picture. Photo: LM_Woods3s To be continued... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #7 June 23, 2006 I'm no tree expert, but those mapple leaves look skinny to me! Is that a Southern US / Texas type of mapple, or are their leaves simply adapted to the hot weather there? Nice areas John.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydivermom 0 #8 June 23, 2006 That is one of the answers to this question. Why did we move back out to the hill country from Houston? Those pictures are definately worth a thousand words. I love it out here.Mrs. WaltAppel All things work together for good to them that love God...Romans 8:28 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #9 June 24, 2006 OK I think this settles it. I will definately make the effort to visit Texas. Other half of our company is in Houston and I been invited over a few times. MUST MAKE THE EFFORT! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites AggieDave 6 #10 June 24, 2006 Do you know if MT Biking is allowed in the park. I have visions of a really cool hiking/camping/biking weekend.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ImGunnaJump 0 #11 June 24, 2006 QuoteOK I think this settles it. I will definately make the effort to visit Texas. Same here - everytime I see the pictures he's posted I think to myself "I have to go there...". Now I've definitely decided I'm coming out, just have to figure out when I can make it happen. Great pictures JohnRich...they're great advertisements for Texas! Does the tourism board know about you??!!!"...I've learned that while the "needs" in life are important (food, water, shelter), it's the "wants" in life (ice cream, chocolate, sex) that make it worth the effort." Kbordson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnRich 4 #12 June 26, 2006 QuoteRemster: I'm no tree expert, but those mapple leaves look skinny to me! Is that a Southern US / Texas type of mapple, or are their leaves simply adapted to the hot weather there? The story of the "lost maples" is in message #3. Those are Canadian bigtooth maples. I have no idea if the leaves of those stranded down here in the hot climate are different from those of the same types of maple trees up north in the cold. Good question. Quoteskydivermom: That is one of the answers to this question. Why did we move back out to the hill country from Houston? I love it out here. It is indeed a beautiful part of the state of Texas. QuoteScoop: OK I think this settles it. I will definately make the effort to visit Texas. Other half of our company is in Houston and I been invited over a few times. MUST MAKE THE EFFORT! Be advised that Houston doesn't really have any spectacular scenery. Everything here is flat, with some open prairie, pine woods, and beaches. You've got to drive about three to four hours west to get to what I consider to be the good stuff. QuoteAggieDave: Do you know if MT Biking is allowed in the park? From the web site: "Visitors enjoy picnicking, camping, backpacking, sightseeing, hiking, photography, birdwatching, fishing, swimming, and nature study." So it looks like mountain biking isn't allowed on the trails there. See the web site below for State Parks with biking. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/exptexas/bike/ QuoteImGunnaJump: Great pictures JohnRich...they're great advertisements for Texas! Does the tourism board know about you??!!! Thank you. I wish I was so lucky as to get paid to brag about my travel adventures. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Skyrad 0 #13 June 26, 2006 Very nice, it looks just like the Ardeche in France.When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnRich 4 #14 June 26, 2006 Photo 1: This neat little cave overhang was the site of one of my most memorable encounters in the park. On the left side of the photo there was a small cave that went back into the rock about 15 feet. This one you're not going to believe. Photo 2 shows a tight mass of thin black strands hanging from the ceiling of the cave, and they were all "twitching". What the heck is it? Is that some kind of moss or fungus, blowing in the breeze? But wait; there isn't any wind inside here. So, highly curious, I picked up a stick and poked up there in the mass to see what it felt like. And then I freaked-out! Why? Because that stick stirred up the twitching mass, which suddenly revealed itself to be about 10,000 granddaddy long-leg spiders all huddled together. And my prodding got them up and running so that they all started spreading out across the ceiling of the cave, while I was laying underneath them, face-up. Arghhh! Crawl for your life! It was like something out of a Stephen King horror movie, and I was lucky to escape with my life - they could have nibbled me to death... Later on, I found two other spider clusters like this. What's this all about? Anyone know? If you hate spiders, you're probably going to have nightmares now. Sorry 'bout that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skydemon2 0 #15 June 26, 2006 spider orgy!!! Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone! I like to start my day off with a little Ray of Soulshine™!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnRich 4 #16 June 26, 2006 Photo 1: Almost covered by vines in one canyon, were the remains of an antique automobile. It’s been so mashed-up, apparently from tumbling down the canyon during gully-washers, that it looks like it was smashed by a junkyard car-crusher. There were just enough parts to recognize it for what it was, like the control pedals. It’ s pretty old, and I have no idea how it found it’s way up into this canyon. Someone would have had to drive it up the creek bed, which would have been a crazy idea. I wouldn’t even try that in my modern four-wheel drive. Photo 2: Raccoon tracks, with great definition in this dried mud – you can even see the point of his toenails. I thought these were unusual because there was a long series of them, and they all occurred in side-by-side pairs like this photo – like he was hopping from rear feet to front feet. That strikes me as an odd way of walking, instead of the usual left-right-left-right pattern. It’s a crazy ‘coon! Photo 3: A cute little lizard, which was tame enough to let me get close for a photo. My reptile-loving friend tells me this is an "earless spiny" lizard. But he tells me that for every lizard I photograph, even though there are huge variations in color patterns. So either there are a lot of natural variations in these fellows, or my friend is pulling my leg to see if I’ll keep buying his identifications. Photo 4: Does this squirrel look comfortable enough to you, lounging on top of this rock? While I snuck up on him for this photo, about four of his buddies were swirling around in the top of tree chasing each other and making a heck of a racket. It’s not often you get to hear squirrels vocalize, but these guys were fighting and raising a ruckus with each other. It must have been over valuable acorn territory. “I saw it first!” This one was a peace-nik. Still to come: deer, fish and flowers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnRich 4 #17 June 27, 2006 The Bambi series. So John, did you see any deer in those woods? Well yes, even though it was broad daylight, and deer are usually only seen at dawn and dusk. Here’s my first one: (Photo 1) Yeah, I know, that critter is several hundred yards away – you can barely see him! We spotted each other about the same time, and I stood vewy vewy still (why am I talking like Elmer Fudd stalking Bugs Bunny?) so as to not alarm him. I watched him for maybe four or five minutes, just standing there, before he bounded off into the woods. Gee, don't you have anything more close-up than that? Okay, how about this one? (Photo 2) Heck, John, that's up close all right, but it's the ass end! Can't you do better than that? Thy this one. I stumbled into this big doe, watching me from one side of the bush, while I watched her from the other side. (Photo 3) We were only about 10 feet apart, eyeball to eyeball! She tolerated me for a minute or two before getting nervous and running off. Now you're doing better. You've got the front end of the deer, and up close, but there are still are those darn branches in the way. All we need now is something with a clear view. This little Bambi crossed the path up ahead of me and didn’t see me coming. (Photo 4) It continued walking and disappeared out of sight behind some brush. I snuck up, camera ready, and finally found it again, about the same time it saw me. Since I had my camera in-hand already, lens zoomed way out, resolution dialed high – I captured this beautiful photo just before it ran off and disappeared. Click! It doesn't get any better than this! The young doe still has its spots, which means that it is only about three to four months old. And I found out later that fawns like this stay with their mom for up to a year. So that means that somewhere else around me must have been the adult deer, lurking nearby, but I never saw her. It did strike me at the time that it was unusual for this little fawn to be running around loose on her own. There were several other sightings, but too brief for me to get my camera out and ready. That's it for my close, and not so close, encounters with deer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnRich 4 #18 June 27, 2006 Let’s talk dragonflies. The darned things are always buzzing around and are impossible to get a picture of while in-flight. And when they do land somewhere, they don’t do it near you. And if you try and sneak up on them, they’re skittish and go buzzing away again. So how do you get a picture of a dragonfly? Well listen up, because I’ve figured it out. This is the kind of thing they don't teach you in school. First you have to sit and watch them for a while. Notice the pattern in the way they fly. They buzz up-creek, down-creek, up-creek, down-creek, and then come to rest on a twig hanging out over the water. After resting-up, they repeat the pattern: up, down, up, down, twig. Notice how three times out of four they land on that exact same twig? Now that you know their pattern, you need a strategy. How about standing close to that twig, vewy vewy still, and make like you’re a tree. Get your camera up to your eye, everything set and ready to go. Then, watch your elusive quarry out of the corner of your eye, without moving your head; buzz up, buzz down, and land on a different twig! Doh! Be patient. Buzz up, buzz down, and land on your twig! You’ve got him! “Click”. The result is attached below. She’s a beautiful orange dragonfly. I’ve encountered these in several places at water holes in the desert around Texas. The striking color always gets my attention. While observing them, I also delighted at another pattern. They will hover in-place like a hummingbird, about six inches above the surface of the water, then suddenly dip down and take a drink and pop back up to where they were, hovering again. The dips are quick, only taking about a second each. They’ll repeat this four or five times in a row before resuming their buzzing, up-creek, down-creek… Tomorrow I'll finish up here with some flowers. And maybe a fish story. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bch7773 0 #19 June 27, 2006 Quote They will hover in-place like a hummingbird, about six inches above the surface of the water, then suddenly dip down and take a drink and pop back up to where they were, hovering again. The dips are quick, only taking about a second each. They’ll repeat this four or five times in a row before resuming their buzzing, up-creek, down-creek… I think when they are doing that they are actually snatching insects out of the water. great pictures and stories MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnRich 4 #20 June 28, 2006 I'll end this with a real fizzle: flower photos. Maybe the chicks will dig them. But I'll risk losing my guy card. The first droopy flowers look kind of sad. The third picture came out very nicely, and is my favorite: It’s a thistle, I think, pretty in pink. Hey, I rhymed! I like the texture of the thousands of filaments and the way they swirl counter-clockwise. And if you look closely, you’ll see the hind end of a bee sticking out, where he has his head buried down inside the middle to gather pollen. If anyone can identify any of these, let me know. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnRich 4 #21 June 28, 2006 I kept running into these plants (attached) in different places and in various life stages. I wish I knew what they were. They're pod plants, like in the movie "Invasion of the body snatchers". The early growth stage seemed to be a big green pod: Photo 1 In the next stage, the big green pods would turn purplish-red: Photo 2 And in the final stage, they turn brownish and pop open, to send hundreds of seeds drifting with the wind on fluffy tufts: Photo 3 What are these things? Fortunately, no replica people were discovered emerging from the pods. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites MF42 0 #22 June 28, 2006 You don't have to be a chick to appreciate good photos. Don't even have to be gay. I like the thistle with the bee. Matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites MF42 0 #23 June 28, 2006 The pod that popped open reminds me of "Aliens" more than "Body Snatchers." Look out for face huggers! They could ruin your whole day. Matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0 Go To Topic Listing
AggieDave 6 #10 June 24, 2006 Do you know if MT Biking is allowed in the park. I have visions of a really cool hiking/camping/biking weekend.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ImGunnaJump 0 #11 June 24, 2006 QuoteOK I think this settles it. I will definately make the effort to visit Texas. Same here - everytime I see the pictures he's posted I think to myself "I have to go there...". Now I've definitely decided I'm coming out, just have to figure out when I can make it happen. Great pictures JohnRich...they're great advertisements for Texas! Does the tourism board know about you??!!!"...I've learned that while the "needs" in life are important (food, water, shelter), it's the "wants" in life (ice cream, chocolate, sex) that make it worth the effort." Kbordson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #12 June 26, 2006 QuoteRemster: I'm no tree expert, but those mapple leaves look skinny to me! Is that a Southern US / Texas type of mapple, or are their leaves simply adapted to the hot weather there? The story of the "lost maples" is in message #3. Those are Canadian bigtooth maples. I have no idea if the leaves of those stranded down here in the hot climate are different from those of the same types of maple trees up north in the cold. Good question. Quoteskydivermom: That is one of the answers to this question. Why did we move back out to the hill country from Houston? I love it out here. It is indeed a beautiful part of the state of Texas. QuoteScoop: OK I think this settles it. I will definately make the effort to visit Texas. Other half of our company is in Houston and I been invited over a few times. MUST MAKE THE EFFORT! Be advised that Houston doesn't really have any spectacular scenery. Everything here is flat, with some open prairie, pine woods, and beaches. You've got to drive about three to four hours west to get to what I consider to be the good stuff. QuoteAggieDave: Do you know if MT Biking is allowed in the park? From the web site: "Visitors enjoy picnicking, camping, backpacking, sightseeing, hiking, photography, birdwatching, fishing, swimming, and nature study." So it looks like mountain biking isn't allowed on the trails there. See the web site below for State Parks with biking. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/exptexas/bike/ QuoteImGunnaJump: Great pictures JohnRich...they're great advertisements for Texas! Does the tourism board know about you??!!! Thank you. I wish I was so lucky as to get paid to brag about my travel adventures. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Skyrad 0 #13 June 26, 2006 Very nice, it looks just like the Ardeche in France.When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnRich 4 #14 June 26, 2006 Photo 1: This neat little cave overhang was the site of one of my most memorable encounters in the park. On the left side of the photo there was a small cave that went back into the rock about 15 feet. This one you're not going to believe. Photo 2 shows a tight mass of thin black strands hanging from the ceiling of the cave, and they were all "twitching". What the heck is it? Is that some kind of moss or fungus, blowing in the breeze? But wait; there isn't any wind inside here. So, highly curious, I picked up a stick and poked up there in the mass to see what it felt like. And then I freaked-out! Why? Because that stick stirred up the twitching mass, which suddenly revealed itself to be about 10,000 granddaddy long-leg spiders all huddled together. And my prodding got them up and running so that they all started spreading out across the ceiling of the cave, while I was laying underneath them, face-up. Arghhh! Crawl for your life! It was like something out of a Stephen King horror movie, and I was lucky to escape with my life - they could have nibbled me to death... Later on, I found two other spider clusters like this. What's this all about? Anyone know? If you hate spiders, you're probably going to have nightmares now. Sorry 'bout that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skydemon2 0 #15 June 26, 2006 spider orgy!!! Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone! I like to start my day off with a little Ray of Soulshine™!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnRich 4 #16 June 26, 2006 Photo 1: Almost covered by vines in one canyon, were the remains of an antique automobile. It’s been so mashed-up, apparently from tumbling down the canyon during gully-washers, that it looks like it was smashed by a junkyard car-crusher. There were just enough parts to recognize it for what it was, like the control pedals. It’ s pretty old, and I have no idea how it found it’s way up into this canyon. Someone would have had to drive it up the creek bed, which would have been a crazy idea. I wouldn’t even try that in my modern four-wheel drive. Photo 2: Raccoon tracks, with great definition in this dried mud – you can even see the point of his toenails. I thought these were unusual because there was a long series of them, and they all occurred in side-by-side pairs like this photo – like he was hopping from rear feet to front feet. That strikes me as an odd way of walking, instead of the usual left-right-left-right pattern. It’s a crazy ‘coon! Photo 3: A cute little lizard, which was tame enough to let me get close for a photo. My reptile-loving friend tells me this is an "earless spiny" lizard. But he tells me that for every lizard I photograph, even though there are huge variations in color patterns. So either there are a lot of natural variations in these fellows, or my friend is pulling my leg to see if I’ll keep buying his identifications. Photo 4: Does this squirrel look comfortable enough to you, lounging on top of this rock? While I snuck up on him for this photo, about four of his buddies were swirling around in the top of tree chasing each other and making a heck of a racket. It’s not often you get to hear squirrels vocalize, but these guys were fighting and raising a ruckus with each other. It must have been over valuable acorn territory. “I saw it first!” This one was a peace-nik. Still to come: deer, fish and flowers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnRich 4 #17 June 27, 2006 The Bambi series. So John, did you see any deer in those woods? Well yes, even though it was broad daylight, and deer are usually only seen at dawn and dusk. Here’s my first one: (Photo 1) Yeah, I know, that critter is several hundred yards away – you can barely see him! We spotted each other about the same time, and I stood vewy vewy still (why am I talking like Elmer Fudd stalking Bugs Bunny?) so as to not alarm him. I watched him for maybe four or five minutes, just standing there, before he bounded off into the woods. Gee, don't you have anything more close-up than that? Okay, how about this one? (Photo 2) Heck, John, that's up close all right, but it's the ass end! Can't you do better than that? Thy this one. I stumbled into this big doe, watching me from one side of the bush, while I watched her from the other side. (Photo 3) We were only about 10 feet apart, eyeball to eyeball! She tolerated me for a minute or two before getting nervous and running off. Now you're doing better. You've got the front end of the deer, and up close, but there are still are those darn branches in the way. All we need now is something with a clear view. This little Bambi crossed the path up ahead of me and didn’t see me coming. (Photo 4) It continued walking and disappeared out of sight behind some brush. I snuck up, camera ready, and finally found it again, about the same time it saw me. Since I had my camera in-hand already, lens zoomed way out, resolution dialed high – I captured this beautiful photo just before it ran off and disappeared. Click! It doesn't get any better than this! The young doe still has its spots, which means that it is only about three to four months old. And I found out later that fawns like this stay with their mom for up to a year. So that means that somewhere else around me must have been the adult deer, lurking nearby, but I never saw her. It did strike me at the time that it was unusual for this little fawn to be running around loose on her own. There were several other sightings, but too brief for me to get my camera out and ready. That's it for my close, and not so close, encounters with deer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnRich 4 #18 June 27, 2006 Let’s talk dragonflies. The darned things are always buzzing around and are impossible to get a picture of while in-flight. And when they do land somewhere, they don’t do it near you. And if you try and sneak up on them, they’re skittish and go buzzing away again. So how do you get a picture of a dragonfly? Well listen up, because I’ve figured it out. This is the kind of thing they don't teach you in school. First you have to sit and watch them for a while. Notice the pattern in the way they fly. They buzz up-creek, down-creek, up-creek, down-creek, and then come to rest on a twig hanging out over the water. After resting-up, they repeat the pattern: up, down, up, down, twig. Notice how three times out of four they land on that exact same twig? Now that you know their pattern, you need a strategy. How about standing close to that twig, vewy vewy still, and make like you’re a tree. Get your camera up to your eye, everything set and ready to go. Then, watch your elusive quarry out of the corner of your eye, without moving your head; buzz up, buzz down, and land on a different twig! Doh! Be patient. Buzz up, buzz down, and land on your twig! You’ve got him! “Click”. The result is attached below. She’s a beautiful orange dragonfly. I’ve encountered these in several places at water holes in the desert around Texas. The striking color always gets my attention. While observing them, I also delighted at another pattern. They will hover in-place like a hummingbird, about six inches above the surface of the water, then suddenly dip down and take a drink and pop back up to where they were, hovering again. The dips are quick, only taking about a second each. They’ll repeat this four or five times in a row before resuming their buzzing, up-creek, down-creek… Tomorrow I'll finish up here with some flowers. And maybe a fish story. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bch7773 0 #19 June 27, 2006 Quote They will hover in-place like a hummingbird, about six inches above the surface of the water, then suddenly dip down and take a drink and pop back up to where they were, hovering again. The dips are quick, only taking about a second each. They’ll repeat this four or five times in a row before resuming their buzzing, up-creek, down-creek… I think when they are doing that they are actually snatching insects out of the water. great pictures and stories MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnRich 4 #20 June 28, 2006 I'll end this with a real fizzle: flower photos. Maybe the chicks will dig them. But I'll risk losing my guy card. The first droopy flowers look kind of sad. The third picture came out very nicely, and is my favorite: It’s a thistle, I think, pretty in pink. Hey, I rhymed! I like the texture of the thousands of filaments and the way they swirl counter-clockwise. And if you look closely, you’ll see the hind end of a bee sticking out, where he has his head buried down inside the middle to gather pollen. If anyone can identify any of these, let me know. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JohnRich 4 #21 June 28, 2006 I kept running into these plants (attached) in different places and in various life stages. I wish I knew what they were. They're pod plants, like in the movie "Invasion of the body snatchers". The early growth stage seemed to be a big green pod: Photo 1 In the next stage, the big green pods would turn purplish-red: Photo 2 And in the final stage, they turn brownish and pop open, to send hundreds of seeds drifting with the wind on fluffy tufts: Photo 3 What are these things? Fortunately, no replica people were discovered emerging from the pods. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites MF42 0 #22 June 28, 2006 You don't have to be a chick to appreciate good photos. Don't even have to be gay. I like the thistle with the bee. Matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites MF42 0 #23 June 28, 2006 The pod that popped open reminds me of "Aliens" more than "Body Snatchers." Look out for face huggers! They could ruin your whole day. Matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. 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Skyrad 0 #13 June 26, 2006 Very nice, it looks just like the Ardeche in France.When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #14 June 26, 2006 Photo 1: This neat little cave overhang was the site of one of my most memorable encounters in the park. On the left side of the photo there was a small cave that went back into the rock about 15 feet. This one you're not going to believe. Photo 2 shows a tight mass of thin black strands hanging from the ceiling of the cave, and they were all "twitching". What the heck is it? Is that some kind of moss or fungus, blowing in the breeze? But wait; there isn't any wind inside here. So, highly curious, I picked up a stick and poked up there in the mass to see what it felt like. And then I freaked-out! Why? Because that stick stirred up the twitching mass, which suddenly revealed itself to be about 10,000 granddaddy long-leg spiders all huddled together. And my prodding got them up and running so that they all started spreading out across the ceiling of the cave, while I was laying underneath them, face-up. Arghhh! Crawl for your life! It was like something out of a Stephen King horror movie, and I was lucky to escape with my life - they could have nibbled me to death... Later on, I found two other spider clusters like this. What's this all about? Anyone know? If you hate spiders, you're probably going to have nightmares now. Sorry 'bout that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydemon2 0 #15 June 26, 2006 spider orgy!!! Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone! I like to start my day off with a little Ray of Soulshine™!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #16 June 26, 2006 Photo 1: Almost covered by vines in one canyon, were the remains of an antique automobile. It’s been so mashed-up, apparently from tumbling down the canyon during gully-washers, that it looks like it was smashed by a junkyard car-crusher. There were just enough parts to recognize it for what it was, like the control pedals. It’ s pretty old, and I have no idea how it found it’s way up into this canyon. Someone would have had to drive it up the creek bed, which would have been a crazy idea. I wouldn’t even try that in my modern four-wheel drive. Photo 2: Raccoon tracks, with great definition in this dried mud – you can even see the point of his toenails. I thought these were unusual because there was a long series of them, and they all occurred in side-by-side pairs like this photo – like he was hopping from rear feet to front feet. That strikes me as an odd way of walking, instead of the usual left-right-left-right pattern. It’s a crazy ‘coon! Photo 3: A cute little lizard, which was tame enough to let me get close for a photo. My reptile-loving friend tells me this is an "earless spiny" lizard. But he tells me that for every lizard I photograph, even though there are huge variations in color patterns. So either there are a lot of natural variations in these fellows, or my friend is pulling my leg to see if I’ll keep buying his identifications. Photo 4: Does this squirrel look comfortable enough to you, lounging on top of this rock? While I snuck up on him for this photo, about four of his buddies were swirling around in the top of tree chasing each other and making a heck of a racket. It’s not often you get to hear squirrels vocalize, but these guys were fighting and raising a ruckus with each other. It must have been over valuable acorn territory. “I saw it first!” This one was a peace-nik. Still to come: deer, fish and flowers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #17 June 27, 2006 The Bambi series. So John, did you see any deer in those woods? Well yes, even though it was broad daylight, and deer are usually only seen at dawn and dusk. Here’s my first one: (Photo 1) Yeah, I know, that critter is several hundred yards away – you can barely see him! We spotted each other about the same time, and I stood vewy vewy still (why am I talking like Elmer Fudd stalking Bugs Bunny?) so as to not alarm him. I watched him for maybe four or five minutes, just standing there, before he bounded off into the woods. Gee, don't you have anything more close-up than that? Okay, how about this one? (Photo 2) Heck, John, that's up close all right, but it's the ass end! Can't you do better than that? Thy this one. I stumbled into this big doe, watching me from one side of the bush, while I watched her from the other side. (Photo 3) We were only about 10 feet apart, eyeball to eyeball! She tolerated me for a minute or two before getting nervous and running off. Now you're doing better. You've got the front end of the deer, and up close, but there are still are those darn branches in the way. All we need now is something with a clear view. This little Bambi crossed the path up ahead of me and didn’t see me coming. (Photo 4) It continued walking and disappeared out of sight behind some brush. I snuck up, camera ready, and finally found it again, about the same time it saw me. Since I had my camera in-hand already, lens zoomed way out, resolution dialed high – I captured this beautiful photo just before it ran off and disappeared. Click! It doesn't get any better than this! The young doe still has its spots, which means that it is only about three to four months old. And I found out later that fawns like this stay with their mom for up to a year. So that means that somewhere else around me must have been the adult deer, lurking nearby, but I never saw her. It did strike me at the time that it was unusual for this little fawn to be running around loose on her own. There were several other sightings, but too brief for me to get my camera out and ready. That's it for my close, and not so close, encounters with deer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #18 June 27, 2006 Let’s talk dragonflies. The darned things are always buzzing around and are impossible to get a picture of while in-flight. And when they do land somewhere, they don’t do it near you. And if you try and sneak up on them, they’re skittish and go buzzing away again. So how do you get a picture of a dragonfly? Well listen up, because I’ve figured it out. This is the kind of thing they don't teach you in school. First you have to sit and watch them for a while. Notice the pattern in the way they fly. They buzz up-creek, down-creek, up-creek, down-creek, and then come to rest on a twig hanging out over the water. After resting-up, they repeat the pattern: up, down, up, down, twig. Notice how three times out of four they land on that exact same twig? Now that you know their pattern, you need a strategy. How about standing close to that twig, vewy vewy still, and make like you’re a tree. Get your camera up to your eye, everything set and ready to go. Then, watch your elusive quarry out of the corner of your eye, without moving your head; buzz up, buzz down, and land on a different twig! Doh! Be patient. Buzz up, buzz down, and land on your twig! You’ve got him! “Click”. The result is attached below. She’s a beautiful orange dragonfly. I’ve encountered these in several places at water holes in the desert around Texas. The striking color always gets my attention. While observing them, I also delighted at another pattern. They will hover in-place like a hummingbird, about six inches above the surface of the water, then suddenly dip down and take a drink and pop back up to where they were, hovering again. The dips are quick, only taking about a second each. They’ll repeat this four or five times in a row before resuming their buzzing, up-creek, down-creek… Tomorrow I'll finish up here with some flowers. And maybe a fish story. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bch7773 0 #19 June 27, 2006 Quote They will hover in-place like a hummingbird, about six inches above the surface of the water, then suddenly dip down and take a drink and pop back up to where they were, hovering again. The dips are quick, only taking about a second each. They’ll repeat this four or five times in a row before resuming their buzzing, up-creek, down-creek… I think when they are doing that they are actually snatching insects out of the water. great pictures and stories MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #20 June 28, 2006 I'll end this with a real fizzle: flower photos. Maybe the chicks will dig them. But I'll risk losing my guy card. The first droopy flowers look kind of sad. The third picture came out very nicely, and is my favorite: It’s a thistle, I think, pretty in pink. Hey, I rhymed! I like the texture of the thousands of filaments and the way they swirl counter-clockwise. And if you look closely, you’ll see the hind end of a bee sticking out, where he has his head buried down inside the middle to gather pollen. If anyone can identify any of these, let me know. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #21 June 28, 2006 I kept running into these plants (attached) in different places and in various life stages. I wish I knew what they were. They're pod plants, like in the movie "Invasion of the body snatchers". The early growth stage seemed to be a big green pod: Photo 1 In the next stage, the big green pods would turn purplish-red: Photo 2 And in the final stage, they turn brownish and pop open, to send hundreds of seeds drifting with the wind on fluffy tufts: Photo 3 What are these things? Fortunately, no replica people were discovered emerging from the pods. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MF42 0 #22 June 28, 2006 You don't have to be a chick to appreciate good photos. Don't even have to be gay. I like the thistle with the bee. Matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MF42 0 #23 June 28, 2006 The pod that popped open reminds me of "Aliens" more than "Body Snatchers." Look out for face huggers! They could ruin your whole day. Matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
