lost_but_found

hey guys,
i just took a few wild flower pictures this weekend. i know what bluebonnets, iris, spider lillies, indian paintbrush, clovers and buttercups are, but there are a few that i don't know.

check out my site and leave a comment on the ones you know, pretty please!!

http://brett.cmdx.com

thanks for the help!!
brett

Shannon

Brett, great photos of a wonderful variety of species -- good job! I posted several comments. I'm not an ace wildflower identifier, but when I get stumped there are some wonderful Texas wildflowers guide books available. I personally use one called "Texas Wildflowers" by Campbell and Lynn Loughmiller; I've had my copy since the mid-80s when it was purchased for a (middle) school project. I've not yet found another guide that provides the same combination of recognizable photos and relevant information about each species as this one.

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- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com

Purchases in the Wild Texas Gear Shop support our continued operation. Thank you!

lost_but_found

Thanks Shannon!

You identified all the ones I didn't know. Thanks.

BTW, I believe the ruby colored ones are clover. I may be mistaken, but am fairly sure they are.

kai

Brett... wow. Thanks for asking for help. Although I don't know much about wildflowers, it gave me a chance to force myself to learn some new things, and that is very much appreciated. And it made me realize that I need to get out...now....

Photo #17- are those lovebugs? I was on the Mississippi coast last year and they were everywhere. Being from the North, I'd never seen them before. If those are them, are they only in the Texas coastal areas, or do they make it inland?

Shannon

There are still amazing stands of wildflowers around. I just spent about four hours this morning taking wildflower photos -- the bluebonnets are now past their peak, meaning they're starting to fade and get "blemishes" on their petals. However, the Indian blanket, spiderwort (in areas that stay relatively damp), coreopsis and various daisy varieties, among others, are all doing quite well. I even saw my first "fiddleneck" (purple, with a curled flowerstalk like the neck of a fiddle/violin) today.

If you want a very short but nice wildflower appreciation trip, and can drive it when the traffic's not too bad (or when the school zone's in effect so you can appreciate the flowers while driving 20mph), then take Hwy 1604 from the Huebner exit and follow Huebner until it meets Bitters Rd. The small medians along this short stretch of roadway are a literal explosion of wildflowers. I didn't stop to take photos along this stretch yet, but there are several wildflower species I don't think I've ever photographed.

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com

Purchases in the Wild Texas Gear Shop support our continued operation. Thank you!

lost_but_found

You are very welcome! Thank you for taking the time to look at my pictures and give me some info. Picture #17 is a picture of love bugs, among many other bugs. I don't really know a whole lot about them, and I honestly can't stand them. I grew up in a small town about 1.5hrs north of Houston and they are more abundant there than they are here in Houston. They are quite bothersome in my opinion.

I just thought it would funny to take a humorous picture for my girlfriend and and title it Love is in the Air. It made her laugh.

Again, thank you for taking time to look at my pictures!

Shannon

Brett,

While looking at your wildflower shots, I also popped in to check out the Bandelier trip photos -- awesome place, it looks like. I was curious about what type of camera bag you're using -- it looks like it works well for folks wearing a backpack, and keeps the camera easily accessible (kangaroo pouch style). It looks large enough to hold a high end SLR and reasonable size zoom (though not our 300mm f4.0 L lens); if nothing else, I could use it to hold my binoculars and stick to my existing camera bag (Lowe Pro Orion -- holds SLR with the 300mm lens and a smaller lens, as well as batteries, filters, etc.)

Always looking for gear that makes life a little easier when I'm out on the trail, even though I don't get into the backcountry like you do.

PS: How long was the Bandelier trip? Just trying to get a feel, based on the types of tents and such I saw you all had with you.

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com

Purchases in the Wild Texas Gear Shop support our continued operation. Thank you!

lost_but_found

Shannon,

The camera bag is actually a regular shoulder strap bag. It is a vidpro bag. I don't think it would fit much in it, definitely no big lenses and high end SLR. It would probably fit a lens and camera body, but be cramped for room. I don't know though. I can get my friends 10D and see if it fits and with what lenses though and get back to you about it.
As far as fit, I just put it on over the top of my shoulder straps on my pack (behind my neck) and around under my arms. Works perfect as a pouch. It is a little bit of a hassel getting my pack on and off though. But I typically don't take my pack off much while on the trail anyway.

Bandelier is an awesome place!! I really enjoyed the trip out there. You get a little bit of everything. Canyons, waterfalls, desert, mountains, forests... And the old Indian ruins are incredible as well! We spent a week out there. Hiked on average about 8 miles a day. Hard hiking though. There is so much elevation gain and loss in a days hike - in and out of the deep canyons and up and down mountains. I can generally hike around 15+ miles a day and be fine, 20 or more and I HURT the next day. Out there I would definitely have been hurting if I were to do 15 miles in a day! So the short mileage was welcomed.
If you want a good tent that will accomdate 2 and not weigh much, look into the Henry Shires Tarptents. That was what the other 2 guys had. I had the smaller solo Walrus MicroSwift. I fit in it just fine, can't sit up though. But there is no room for any of my gear other than my camera. It does have a vestibule to store my gear under though. But I would recommend either the Tarptents, or the the Eureka Zeus2 for a lightweight 2 person tent. Both are going to have minor ventilation problems due to being single wall tents, but bother preform fairly well. Just do some research. Know what you want to do with it, and find something that fits. Backpacker.com and their magazine with all the gear reviews that should still be available has a lot of good info about all the tents on the market. Lays all the specs and options out on paper for easy compare and contrast. There are many out there, and the ones I've listed are only the ones I've seen in the field. Good luck!!!

lost_but_found

If anyone should know what this flower, please let me know. I have been seeing these guys around the Houston parks and wondering what they are.

http://brett.cmdx.com/view_photo.php...=purple_flower

I appreciate any help and/or knowledge I can get.

lost_but_found

Just found it! Herbertia, a member of the iris family.

Shannon

Ooh, that's a pretty one!

I don't see many irises outside of well-kept gardens, here... I guess you need to be a little further east, where the climate's a bit wetter (though the way this year's going, San Antonio might qualify as "East Texas", precipitiation-wise! )

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com

Purchases in the Wild Texas Gear Shop support our continued operation. Thank you!