Christmas is Comin

 

In spite of the approaching holiday associated with snow that causes people to hand wreaths on their gates, our weather has been dry and sunny. As the blooms and tropical plants visible here attest.

Still Life with Magnolia Seeds

 

That's a seedpod from a magnolia tree captured on a recent journey in a neighborhood. Magnolias aren't rare in Austin, but live oaks and pecans far exceed them in numbers.

Pride of Barbados

The plant to FFP's right, called Pride of Barbados, has been beautiful and long-lasting in Austin this summer.

Splash of Color

These flowers brighten up a yard in Hyde Park that has a decorative windmill as well.

This plant is commonly called a Shrimp plant. Easy to see why. I have been encountering this more and more on my walks.

I'll Bee There for You

 

This bee was hard at work the other day on this cactus blossom.

Colorful and Patriotic

This yard in South Austin has the floral display (azaleas in a pot? azaleas don't do well in our soil) and the flag.

Masked Walker

When possible we've been walking outside in quiet neighborhoods with masks on and far from others. Here FFP pauses near a beautiful Pride of Barbados.

Shrimp?

I think the common name of this plant is Shrimp plant. I think I can see why.

When the Artichokes Bloom

Took this in Travis Heights. I was over seven decades old before I realized that artichokes would bloom like this.

Nice Tableau

Someone in the Arroyo Seco neighborhood set this up for me to photgraph.

Wildflowers

Shot this picture in a little neighborhood around Arroyo Seco.

Spring Walking

We walked in the Hyde Park neighborhood recently and I caught FFP going by this picket fence with beautiful flowers.

Blossoms in the Wind

These blossoms were on Annie Street in South Austin on our recent walk. Spring has sprung.

Poppies Popping

On a walk down South Congress we saw these Poppies announcing Springtime.

Red Buds an Early Sign of Spring

This red bud tree is showing its colors outside the Nakonah Condos. Its one of the early signs of Spring.

Eyes on the Prize

I was walking in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood when I spotted this century plant and thought, at first, that it had Christmas balls on its spines. But no, "here's looking at you kid." That's different!

Fence Line

This old wrought iron fence around one of the homes in the historic Bremond block looks great with a climbing plant blooming in our still hot and dry October!

Where Once the Trains Ran

It's easy to forget standing amidst the downtown skyscrapers that trains used to run along the south side of Third Street. But next to the pedestrian bridge across Shoal Creek where Third deadends there is an old railway bridge. Vines and weeds are trying to take it over. (There is still a train track that crossed Lady Bird Lake and circles around to the west to travel up the middle of Mopac eventually.)

From a Certain Angle...

Walking across the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, there is a certain spot where our building still looms up (beyond the salvia). Many of the buildings in this picture have arrived since we moved here.