Nature frequently is an inspiration to me as I write, and I often include sightings of wildlife and mentions of plants in my stories. Sometimes, they even play important roles in the plot.
I discovered the little American Green Tree Frog above while I was pulling weeds near my cannas one morning. His presence is a good sign that my no-pesticides-or-herbicides policy is working to support wildlife and native plants in my garden.
Call me a greenie or a treehugger, but I believe we should make choices that sustain and encourage frogs, bats, bees, and butterflies—they are vital to our future.
Inspirations this Week
Parasola by Flashlight
Chances are, you’ll step right over the parasola fungi without noticing because they’re small and semitransparent. I spotted these in the beam of my flashlight while I was walking my dogs in our backyard before dawn. They frequently “bloom” overnight here in the Houston area and fade away in the daytime heat.
Bloom Close Ups
The impatiens are fading fast as autumn approaches, but I was thrilled to capture the details of this gorgeous white flower in the pot beside my front door.
Our elephant ears have been extraordinarily happy this year, putting out more blossoms than ever before. You must duck down beneath the giant leaves to see them well.
On my lot, it’s easy to plant a shrub where there isn’t enough light, and I very much fear that’s the case for this esperanza, but it mustered enough energy to produce this beautiful flower cluster despite my poor decision. Maybe I will move it to a different location next spring.
Small Lizard, Big Attitude
You? Want a piece of me? Get lost, human. Can’t you see I’m busy?
This is a Carolina anole, sometimes mistakenly called a chameleon. Anoles change colors to (somewhat) match their background. Full grown, our Texas-born anoles reach only 6″ in length, but they come equipped with alligator-sized egos.
Thanks for reading!Â
