NASCAR Day has got us on the edge of our seats with anticipation this May 19. The iconic car race has been happening for several decades now, first starting in 1948 on Daytona Beach, located in Florida, U.S. The NASCAR event takes place for 10 months each year. Millions from all over the world tune in to watch the races. Companies and sponsors have also created and manufactured special collectibles for commercial sales. Seeing the popularity of the event, the NASCAR Foundation created NASCAR Day to help raise funds and awareness for the betterment of childrenβs lives all over the world.
Horaceβs duskywing, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in the United States from Massachusetts to Florida, and west to eastern South Dakota, the Gulf Coast, southeastern Utah, Colorado, north-eastern Arizona, and New Mexico. It is listed as a species of special concern in the US state of Connecticut.
The fringes are brown. The upper side of the male forewing is dark brown with little contrast and no white over scaling. The upper side of the female forewing is light brown with a contrasting pattern and large transparent spots. The underside of the hindwing is usually without two spots below the apex. The male has a coastal fold containing yellow scent scales; the female has a patch of scent scales on the 7th abdominal segment. The wingspan is 36β49 mm.
There are two generations in the north, with adults on the wing from April to September; there are three generations in the deep south and Texas, with adults on the wing from January to November. Adults prefer open woodlands and edges, clearings, fence rows, wooded swamps, power-line right-of-ways, open fields, and roadsides.
Smoky Sun from the Possum Kingdom Lake Wildfires in 2011
The Possum Kingdom Complex is a grouping of four wildfires that have consumed about 148,000 acres (600Β km2) inΒ Stephens,Β Young,Β andΒ Palo PintoΒ counties.Β The complex consists of the Possum Kingdom West Fire (90,000 acres), Possum Kingdom East Fire 11,000 acres (45Β km2), Hohertz Fire 40,000 acres (160Β km2), and Jackson Ranch Fire 7,000 acres (28Β km2). The fire destroyed 166 homes and two churches. 600 more homes were threatened.Β Possum Kingdom State ParkΒ was closed on April 15. Ninety percent of the park was involved in the fire. 450 firefighters, threeΒ helitankers,Β and threeΒ helicoptersΒ fought the fire along a 270-mile (430Β km) fire line.
On August 30, 2011, another outbreak of wildfires ravaged the Possum Kingdom Lake area, continuing well into September and destroying 39 homes by the time of containment.
TheΒ Question MarkΒ butterfly is a North AmericanΒ nymphalid butterfly. It lives in wooded areas, city parks, and areas with trees and open space. The color and textured appearance of the underside of its wings combines to provideΒ camouflageΒ that resembles a dead leaf. Its flight period is from May to September. “The silver mark on the underside of the hindwing is broken into two parts, a curved line, and a dot, creating aΒ ?-shaped mark that gives the species its common name.”
It is National Herb Day on May 6! It is usually celebrated annually on the first Saturday of May. The HerbDay Coalition, an organization of five non-profit groups, started National Herb Day to raise awareness about the useful properties and importance of herbs in daily life. They also work towards encouraging people to learn more about herbs and provide a better understanding of the extensive uses of herbs in daily life. Herbs are extensively used in food, medicines, and cosmetics. They also served as the first medicines ever used by humans to cure various ailments.
Tanya Tucker (American Heroes Festival, The Colony, TX – November 2016);
The Lumineers (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX – May 26, 2017)
U2 -The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX – May 26, 2017)
Bret Michaels Band (Lava Cantina, The Colony, TX – October 4, 2017)
The Oak Ridge Boys (American Heroes Festival, The Colony, TX – November 2017)
P!NK – Beautiful Trauma World Tour 2018/2019 (American Airline Center, Dallas, TX – May 2, 2018)
Restless Hearts (American Heroes Festival, The Colony, TX – November 2018)
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National Concert Day is celebrated on May 5 every year. It is a musical event created by Live Nation in 2015 to celebrate the fans, artists, and crew behind live concert performances. It marks the beginning of the summer concert season in the U.S. The event features performances from huge industry icons and famous music bands. There sure is a lot of excitement in the air for National Concert Day.
First brought to North America by Shakespeare enthusiasts in the nineteenth century, European Starlings are now among the continentβs most numerous songbirds. They are stocky black birds with short tails, triangular wings, and long, pointed bills. Though theyβre sometimes resented for their abundance and aggressiveness, theyβre still dazzling birds when you get a good look. Covered in white spots during winter, they turn dark and glossy in summer. For much of the year, they wheel through the sky and mob lawns in big, noisy flocks.
The focal point of the State Fair of Texas Midway was the newly completed Top oβ Texas Tower ride in 2013. The foundation for the super gyro tower was built in summer 2011 and the first two of six shaft components were stacked in mid-November 2012. The remaining shaft components were erected in December, followed by attachments of the gondola and carrier.
Sculpture is a type of visual art that operates in three dimensions. The word sculpture comes from the Latin wordΒ sculpere, which means to carve. Sculptors use a variety of materials to create their sculptures. While many traditional materials include wood, stone, metal, and ceramics, other sculptors specialize in non-traditional materials. They use materials such as ice, toothpicks, and even LEGO. Sculptors also use materials, colors, texture, and size to evoke an emotion or response from the viewer. Their methods vary, too. Sculptors use one of four primary methods to make their sculptures. These methods include carving, molding, casting, and assembling.
As the weather warms up, so does the trail season. While many people use them all year long, Americaβs trail system gets its real workout between April and October when the weather is ripe for outdoor activity. The number of established trails grows every year. Some take the form of well-defined foot or bike routes while others take us onto a beaten path. No matter what kind of path you choose to take, the day encourages you to appreciate the thousands of miles of trails and to bring a friend with you, too!
In late March/early April 2013, I browsed around on Facebook. And while I worked on my page, scrolled, and clicked, I saw a few photos of Bald Eagles nesting in the Dalles/Fort Worth area. I did some research about the birds and found out that their nest is at John Bunker Sands Wetland Center in Seagoville, Texas. Just southeast of Dallas. After a bit more reading, it said the center is open to the public every first Saturday of the month. “Perfect”, I said to Kevin. “The weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend. I’m going to take Katelynn to see Bald Eagles in Seagoville this Saturday.” He replied he can take care of Sara. She’s still too little for walking around for a long time.
The following Saturday, Katelynn and I packed a couple of snacks and water before we hit the road. It was about an hour’s drive to get to the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center. Katelynn was really excited to get to see these beautiful birds. We both have never seen Bald Eagles in the wild.
The entrance area of the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center in Seagoville, Texas
When we arrived at the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center, I paid our entry fee. The ladies at the desk had a few questions. One was how we heard about the center. I replied: “Facebook.” The ladies were surprised. I explained to them how I found their page β¦ “and now we are here to see some wildlife.” Before we got on our self-guided hike, Ron wanted to show us a few animals inside the center. “Katelynn, are you ready to see a two-and-a-half-foot ‘gator? We’ve got a couple of snakes, too.” Katelynn cheered “YEEAAHH! I’m ready for that!” Ron got Ally, the alligator, out of a fountain. He had to be quick. Ally and her brother wanted to go after his hand. But at the end, he was holding Ally tight in his hand. Ron explained to us the anatomy of a ‘gator, how they swim, hunt, and even chill at the banks of a river. He also told us that Ally’s momma is a big alligator, which lives in the marshy swamps of the center. “So, don’t get too close to the waters”, Ron warned us.
Next, we moved on to see a Western Hognose and a Corn snake. As a child, I was always terrified of snakes, since I had no knowledge of snakes. Over the years, I’ve learned so much more about these animals. And now, I have no problem touching and holding them. The Western Hognose was the first snake I’ve ever put in my hands. It was very interesting, how these reptiles contract their muscles to slide forward. This little guy had a good grip on my hand and fingers. It was very fascinating. After the hognose, Ron pulled out the corn snake out of the terrarium. I almost jumped back. Looking at the snake, I said: “Yeah, this one is a bit too big for me. I’ll pass and watch Katelynn holding it. The corn snake really liked Katelynn. She immediately had to check out Katelynn’s soft hair. Katelynn enjoyed having the snake around her neck and learn the difference between venomous and non-venous snakes. And we found out, how to tell between a boy snake and a girl snake.
Once we were done looking and learning about these wonderful reptiles, Katelynn got equipped with binoculars. We were also advised to walk on the trail and stay away from the water’s edge. On the way to the transmission towers in the west of the center, we saw beautiful yellow Spring flowers and some waterfowl. The American Coots made quite some noise out on the water. And we’ve seen tons of ladybugs along the way.
At the end of that trail, we finally got a good glimpse of the adult eagles. The Bald Eagle couple arrives around October/November in Texas. The female lays eggs in January. Both parents take care of their offspring until early mid-May, before they all migrate back up north. In October/November it all repeats itself again. Due to the marshlands at the center, the Eagles have a lot of food resources. I guess, this is why they always choose to come back to the same place.
On the way back to the building of the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center, we’ve seen some footprints (I believe from a raccoon), more flowers, and birds. Once we left, there was a mare with her foal. So adorable! I parked on the side of the road for a moment, so Katelynn could look at the horses from the car.
On the road back home, I noticed that Katelynn had a long morning. She took a short nap in the car. I guess, the fresh air, the walk to the eagle’s nest, and learning about alligators and snakes knocked her out. It was a lot to take in for a 9-year-old. No doubt! π
The Wrinkled Grashopperis a genus of band-winged grasshoppers in the family Acrididae. There is only one described species in the genus, Hippiscus ocelote from North America.
After a warm Spring Break, the rain is very welcome in New England. Kevin and Katelynn drive to Queen, New York, where he drops her off at LaGuardia Airport. It rains, but it shouldn’t interfere with the time of her departure. This evening, Katelynn will be back in Dallas, Texas again.
A member of the Hickory family, the pecan is native to the central and southern United States. βPecanβ is an Algonquian word, meaning a nut requiring a stone to crack. They are an excellent source of copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, and vitamin E. Pecans can help reduce LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol levels in the blood. They are also rich in dietary fiber. Pecans make great snacks all on their own, but they also make terrific garnishes for other foods such as desserts, salads, or the main meal. Sweet or savory, pecans can add a little glamor to a dish or be the star of the show.
Whether you want to grow vegetables, fruit, flowers, houseplants, or anything in between, National Gardening Day celebrates a satisfying pastime that you will enjoy for decades. Growing your own food also provides fresh and natural nourishment for your family and saves you time and money at the grocery store. As many gardeners know, the benefits of gardening come from more than the produce. Spending time in the garden also provides physical activity and an opportunity to join nature. The day is a call to action to get out and grow flower or vegetable gardens. No matter how you garden, plant in the ground, in containers, in straw bales, or in a square-foot gardening box. Just garden!
Our Mimosa started to die and eventually needed to be cut down. One day in early April 2013 the tree service came over and chopped. We were actually glad, the tree was done. Mimosas make a big mess. They look pretty only for two to three weeks. But the rest of the time they drop sticky sap and their seeds make a mess. However, Ranger loved the tree. It provided a lot of shade for him.
TheΒ tawny emperor is a species ofΒ brush-footed butterfly. It is native to North America, especially the eastern half fromΒ CanadaΒ to northernΒ Mexico. The tawny emperor should not be mistaken for a very similarΒ AsterocampaΒ butterfly, theΒ hackberry emperor, which can be distinguished by the white spots near the tip of its forewing and the black eyespot lower along the edge of the forewing. The upper side is mostly dark brown. The forewing is an orange-brown color with pale orange-yellow spots. The underside is mainly gray-brown with the forewing having some black and pale yellowish markings. The wingspan measures 2 to 2.6Β inches (51 to 66Β mm). A dark morph of this species is regionally common with nearly uniformly dark hind wings. This butterfly may be seen flying near houses, gravel driveways, water, muddy places, gardens, and woodlands. Its only host plant isΒ hackberryΒ trees. The adult feeds onΒ carrion,Β plant sap, andΒ dung, and rarely lands on flowers.
Spring is coming on strong and, according to the calendar, is technically already here by the time this month rolls around. And for those who have not already begun looking at planting this yearβs gardenβitβs time to get a move on right away! The changing weather promises good growing seasons very soon and National Garden Month encourages people in the northern hemisphere to get out and start preparing that soil. Those who havenβt been able to find the motivation should take a moment to let the smell and taste of freshly grown tomatoes tempt, or the sweet taste that canβt be seen from anything other than homegrown cucumbers, and strawberries. Depending on the particular location in the world, National Garden Month is the perfect chance to get out and start preparing the garden, tilling the soil, or planting seeds for everything that will be growing this year!
The preferred habitat of the barn swallow is open country with low vegetation, such as pasture, meadows, and farmland, preferably with nearby water. This swallow avoids heavily wooded or precipitous areas and densely built-up locations. The presence of accessible open structures such as barns, stables, or culverts to provide nesting sites, and exposed locations such as wires, roof ridges, or bare branches for perching, are also important in the bird’s selection of its breeding range.
Barn swallows are semi-colonial, settling in groups from a single pair to a few dozen pairs, particularly in larger wooden structures housing animals. The same individuals often breed at the same site year after year, although settlement choices have been experimentally shown to be predicted by nest availability rather than any characteristics of available mates.Β Because it takes around 2 weeks for a pair to build a nest from mud, hair, and other materials, old nests are highly prized.
This species breeds across the Northern Hemisphere from sea level to 2,700Β m (8,900Β ft),Β but to 3,000Β m (9,800Β ft) in theΒ CaucasusΒ and North America,Β and it is absent only from deserts and the cold northernmost parts of the continents. Over much of its range, it avoids towns, and the house martin replaces it in Europe in urban areas. However, inΒ HonshΕ«, Japan, the barn swallow is a more urban bird, with theΒ red-rumped swallowΒ (Cecropis daurica) replacing it as the rural species.
In winter, the barn swallow is cosmopolitan in its habitat choice, avoiding only dense forests and deserts.Β It is most common in open, low vegetation habitats, such asΒ savannaΒ and ranch land, and in Venezuela, South Africa, andΒ Trinidad and TobagoΒ it is described as being particularly attracted to burnt or harvestedΒ sugarcaneΒ fields and the waste from the cane.Β In the absence of suitable roost sites, they may sometimes roost on wires where they are more exposed to predators.Β Individual birds return to the same wintering locality each yearΒ and congregate from a large area toΒ roostΒ in reed beds. These roosts can be extremely large; one in Nigeria had an estimated 1.5 million birds.Β These roosts are thought to be a protection from predators, and the arrival of roosting birds is synchronized to overwhelm predators likeΒ African hobbies. The barn swallow has been recorded as breeding in the more temperate parts of its winter range, such as the mountains of Thailand and in central Argentina.
Migration of barn swallows between Britain and South Africa was first established on 23 December 1912 when a bird that had been ringed by James Masefield at a nest in Staffordshire, was found in Natal.Β As would be expected for a long-distance migrant, this bird has occurred as a vagrant to such distant areas as Hawaii,Β Bermuda, Greenland,Β Tristan da Cunha, theΒ Falkland Islands,Β and even Antarctica.
Sea pink, also known as sea thrift plant, thrift plant, and common thrift (Armeria maritima), is a low-growing perennial evergreen that is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Growing sea pinks and how to take care of thrift plants is easy.
Finally, the two pieces I had to reorder were arriving. And I could finish building the greenhouse. Once the frame was up, I slid the panels on the bottom, and installed the window, before I could slide the roof panels in place. The ground was already straightened, when I put the base together. Kevin had to help me to lift the greenhouse across the fence. The kit was light, so it was easy for us to get it from the porch to the garden, where I could fasten it to the base. The following morning, I built the door and installed it, before a Spring storm came through. The greenhouse made it successful through the storm.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers live in both hardwood and conifer forests up to about 6,500 feet in elevation. They often nest in groves of small trees such as aspens and spend winters in open woodlands. Occasionally, sapsuckers visit bird feeders for suet. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers perch upright on trees, leaning on their tails like other woodpeckers. They feed at sap wells βneat rows of shallow holes they drill in tree bark. They lap up the sugary sap along with any insects that may get caught there. Sapsuckers drum on trees and metal objects in a distinctive stuttering pattern. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are mostly black and white with boldly patterned faces. Both sexes have red foreheads, and males also have red throats. Look for a long white stripe along the folded wing. Bold black-and-white stripes curve from the face toward a black chest shield and white or yellowish underparts.
Kevin, the girls, and I wanted to take a little break from walking around the fair. The Fair had the “Kroger Birds of The World Show” in the Band Shell. Katelynn and Sara enjoyed watching the big birds from different parts of the planet. One of the birds made a “guest” fall into the nearby pool. Well, it was a warm October day. I can imagine, it was very refreshing.
Texas Independence Day is the celebration of the adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. With this document signed by 59 delegates, settlers in Mexican Texas officially declared independence from Mexico and created the Republic of Texas.
