The Green Lynx This Green Lynx is the spider who caught my eye on the Yellow Bells bush by the gate. If I had known that this particular spider spits, leaps, and bites I might not have moved in so close for these photos. The Green Lynx Spider is named after the big cat because itContinue reading
Author: Tammy Brown
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The Arthropod Series, Part III–The Green Lynx Spider
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The Arthropod Series, Part II: Dragonfly Diner
The Dragonfly Diner There are many ordinary moments in nature that become very special only because we happen to be in a particular place at the precise time to see them happen. Sunday afternoon, Ken and I got to experience one of those moments when a very large dragonfly, a Common Green Darner, zipped byContinue reading
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The Arthropod Series: Part I, The Praying Mantis Knocks
The Arthropod Series A bright green and yellow spider spinning webs on the Yellow Bells by the gate caught my eye on Saturday morning. That prompted the attachment of a macro lens to my camera, and a hunt in the fields for colorful spiders. The successful spider expedition set the arthropod theme for theContinue reading
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Rainy Weekend at Little Piney
Rainy Weekend Thirty-six hours of rain, and I’m not complaining. First of all, the rain put an end to the Hidden Pines Fire allowing efforts to shift toward clean up and assistance for the families affected. Second, the long, steady rain puts an end (at least temporarily) to the threat of more wildfires. Third, rainContinue reading
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Fall Planting for Butterflies and Hummingbirds
Fall Seed Planting Fall is a busy season at Little Piney. Fall is the time to plant wildflower seeds, watch bird migration, and work and play outdoors while the weather is as good as it gets. I’ve had my seed packets in hand for October since spring, but now that planting time is here, it is a challengeContinue reading
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Hidden Pines Fire
Hidden Pines Fire from Little Piney Sadly, Bastrop County is suffering another devastating fire. The fire is no longer spreading, but 4582 acres have burned, including 48 “structures,” probably homes, and parts of Buescher and Bastrop State Parks. Four thousand of those acres are still burning, and firefighters from all over the state andContinue reading
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Nature Writes Her Own Story
Red Shouldered Hawks Last Sunday, I planned to spend the morning discovering fall migrants–the warblers, orioles, hummingbirds, etc. that birders all over Texas reported daily for the past week. I didn’t have much luck with that plan, though. Instead, Sunday’s story was about larger birds. Red Shouldered Hawks patroled at Little Piney all day. I saw themContinue reading
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Hints of Fall
Fall visitors Temperatures range in the nineties yet there are hints of fall in the air at Little Piney. Early mornings feel pleasant, and migrating birds stop by for seed and berries. I’ve spied two early ducks, a Black and White Warbler, and a Baltimore Oriole. I hear lots of new calls and songs and seeContinue reading
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Home to Little Piney
Return to Little Piney After being away for a month, I was happy to be heading home to Little Piney, and anxious to see what the 100+ temperatures and scarce rain had wrought. As I pulled up to the house in hot mid-afternoon, Little Piney was silent and still except for three squawking crows.Continue reading
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Bluebird Nest Boxes for Total Beginners
How to Install Bluebird Nest Boxes Little Piney hosts a healthy population of Eastern Bluebirds. They are encouraged to settle here by good habitat and available real estate. We have 7 bluebird nest boxes put in place several years ago by previous owners. Recently, I removed all nest boxes for cleaning and fresh paint,Continue reading