Shield Ranch Wildflowers

Even as hot and as dry as it has been in Central Texas the past few months, the arid land at the Shield Ranch still produces some beautiful early fall blooms.  This wild plant was growing mostly out of very rocky soil and is about to spread it’s wealth throughout the ranch land, via it’s seeds, which are designed to be carried away by the next good breeze.

Cotton Blossom

Cotton is planted in Texas in the early spring and the first blooms occur in early to mid June.  The cotton harvest starts in late July to early August, depending upon the prevoius and current weather conditions.  This bloom is the beginning stage of that button-down dress shirt or sundress you may be wearing someday!

Mother’s Day Lily

Our son and his wife gave this beautiful lily to my wife for Mother’s Day last year.  It survived a pretty harsh winter and came back up in the spring.  It bloomed again  on Mother’s Day this year!  It is truly the gift that keeps on giving!

The State Bird of Texas

This young Mockingbird is taking a little break from eating all the tomatoes in my garden!  I guess eating tomatoes all day can make you a little thirsty.

Emptied Pockets

Visualize, if you will, a man who lived a long time ago and who might have just returned from an “adventure” on the dusty trails of Texas.  He empties his pockets and pours a whiskey to wash the trail dust from his throat.  Where has he been?  What has he been doing?  A picture speaks a thousand words.  What does this picture say to you?

Idle But Not Forgotten

This old barn and tractor seem to be frozen in time.  They remind me of the difficult times experienced by many Texas farmers during  the Great Depression.  I’m glad the current owner has prreserved them for all of us to enjoy and reflect upon.

Sunflower

We have three bird feeders in our backyard which we keep filled with sunflower seeds.  This flower grew from one of the seeds that the birds left on the ground.  A real Texas home-grown beauty!

Summer Shower

I toook this image after a sudden summer afternoon shower.  It was 95 degrees and this Rose Of Sharon was delighted to get a short break from the heat.

Round Bale 2

These round bales look like strategically placed chess pieces upon a beautiful green pasture.

Round Bale 1

Freshly cut hay formed into round bales dotted this pasture for as far as I could see.

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