Aug 2, 2024
2年前、今頃の季節の写真
もう伐られて無くなってしまったナンキンハゼの並木、鹿さんやカラスさんにとっても良い日陰を作ってたんだよなぁ･･と思い出す酷暑の午後。
’22.8.7 飛火野にて
seen from United States
seen from Brazil
seen from Australia
seen from Russia
seen from Georgia
seen from United States
seen from Uzbekistan
seen from Russia
seen from Austria
seen from South Korea
seen from Kazakhstan
seen from Malaysia
seen from Italy
seen from China
seen from Germany
seen from Malaysia
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Türkiye
seen from Sweden
seen from China
2年前、今頃の季節の写真
もう伐られて無くなってしまったナンキンハゼの並木、鹿さんやカラスさんにとっても良い日陰を作ってたんだよなぁ･･と思い出す酷暑の午後。
’22.8.7 飛火野にて
Week 51 Observations
12.17.25
Coastal Sandbur
(Cenchrus spinifex)
Observed 12.17.25 at home and at GISP. This native grass ranges from South America to Southern US.
It thrives in disturbed areas with well drained, sandy soils, often times indicating overused land.
The burs are seed pods that hold 2-4 seeds. The barbed spines aid in seed dispersal though it is an annoyance for animals and people.
Some birds, like Pyrrhuloxia, feed on the seeds. Other animals such as livestock can eat it but it causes pain to the mouth and hooves can impact the quality of mohair and wool.
Though it is a pest of a weed it can be found growing in areas that other plants can not and it can help stabilize the soil and dunes making it a vital native species.
#coastalsandbur #Cenchrusspinifex #citizenscience #native #plant #flora #nature #outdoors #december #December17 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day351
12.18.25
Chinese Tallow
(Triadica sebifera)
Observed 12.18.25 in GISP. This deceptively pretty, invasive plant from China is a big ecological issue for the Gulf Coast and other areas it has been introduced to by altering soils and outcompeting native flora.
It was originally brought here for oil and wax by Benjamin Franklin! The seeds are white and waxy which has been used to make candles. The oil produced from these kernels have been used in lamps and paints.
The leaves and sap are toxic but pollinators enjoy the spring flowers and birds eat the seeds. The honey the bees make is highly desirable. When the leaves or stems are broken a poisonous sap is present.
#chinesetallow #Triadicasebifera #citizenscience #nonnative #invasive #plant #flora #nature #outdoors #december #December19 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day352
12.19.25
Downy Woodpecker
(Dryobates pubescens)
Observed adult male at Lafitte's Cove on Galveston Island 12.19.25. This native bird is found across all of North America and is only absent in the southwestern desert and Northern tundra.
They are the smallest North American woodpecker species. Though they aren't closely related to the hairy woodpecker, they look similar due to adapting over time to similar environments. The downy has a much smaller beak.
Despite their small size, they are able to carve out their nesting and shelter cavities in trees trunk. They have little bristly hairs that cover their nose holes that keep wood chips from being inhaled.
They like to feed on insects but also eat seeds, berries, and suet. They will hunt in the trees, on the ground, and frequent backyard feeders. Their tongues are so long that it coils up into their head and darts out quickly to grab food with the sticky, barbs on the tip.
#downywoodpecker #Dryobatespubescens #citizenscience #native #Woodpecker #bird #nature #outdoors #December #December19 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day353
12.20.25
Rounded Earthstar
(Geastrum saccatum)
Observed in a flower box in front of ShyKatz on Galveston Island 12.20.25. This native mushroom is common throughout central and east Texas as well as most of the world making it a cosmopolitan species. It is commonly found growing on/around decaying wood.
It is pretty tough and bitter making it inedible though it is being studied for possible anti inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
It starts out as a little puff ball and as it grows there are 4-10 arms that look like a flower and act as a supportive base for the spore sac. The sac has an inner lining of dark tissue called the GLEBA (anyone? 👀 anyone?) that protects the dark brown spores until a split forms on the top of the sac. Once the sac opens the spores are expelled usually triggered by raindrops.
#roundedearthstar #Geastrumsaccatum #citizenscience #native #mushroom #fungi #gleba #nature #outdoors #december #December20 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day354
12.21.25
Tangerine
(Citrus deliciosa)
Observed my first fruit tree, with fruit, downtown Galveston 12.20.25. Tangerines are hybrids of mandarins, likely originating from the chinese mandarin and pomelo. Later, appearing in Italy about 1810. It quickly became a favorite around the Mediterranean area for its sweet fruit.The flowers and peels can produce essential oils. It is easier to peel than other orange species.
#Tangerine #Citrusdeliciosa #citizenscience #nonnative #mandarins #fruittree #tree #fruit #orange #nature #outdoors #december #December21 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day355
12.22.25
Coppertone Stonecrop
(Sedum adolphi)
Observed 12.20.25 downtown Galveston. This non-native succulent comes from Mexico where it thrives in rocky, arid regions.
It changes colors with the weather. Bright orange to red with more sun, less rain, & cooler temps. Lime green with less sun, warmer temps and more rain.
It easily propagates from stem cuttings. In late winter to early spring, white flower grow to attract pollinators.
#coppertonestonecrop #Sedumadolphi #citizenscience #nonnative #succulent #nature #outdoors #december #December22 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day356
12.23.25
This one made me uncomfortable lol
Northern Mole Cricket
(Neocurtilla hexadactyla)
Observed 12.20.25 at GISP on Alligator Loop Trail. This is a native insect and ranges from Southern Canada to Eastern and central US.
They are nocturnal and are usually only seen during mating season. They are skilled at digging and burrowing through damp soil.
Their burrows can amplify their chirping which is produced by rubbing their wings together.
Females will stay and protect her eggs and nymphs which is rare with insects. They can be pest-like for lawn owners because they feed on roots.
#northernmolecricket #Neocurtillahexadactyla #citizenscience #native #insect #nature #outdoors #december #December23 #2025 #picoftheday #project365 #day357
Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera). I don’t know if they’re invasive or not for our area. All I know is that they reproduce like chicks-and-biddies along with rabbits.
chinese tallow 6.4.18
find more of my photos here. please do not remove caption.
なぁ、子鹿ちゃん。今君らが居るここはな、君らが産まれるちょっと前まで大きなナンキンハゼの木が何本もあってな、それはそれは綺麗な景色やったんやで･･
’24.6.29 飛火野にて
小さい秋みつけた😉
’24.10.27 飛火野にて
'23.10.21 飛火野、高畑にて
奈良公園ではナンキンハゼが紅葉を迎えています。･･とは言っても、公園内の目立つ場所にあった大きな木たちはかなり伐採されてしまいました。
飛火野もシンボルツリーと西端の方だけが残ってその色付きを見せてくれています。
奈良公園の最南端、高畑との境でも見られるので立ち寄りましたが、ここは今後どうなるのでしょうか。秋には毎年撮影する木々なのですが･･。