A Bonus Day to End February and a Bonus for You! (A Leap Year Photo Blog)

Hi Everybody! Please come in for your (short) Nature Break!


I hope you all enjoyed our bonus day this year as it will be 4 years until it comes back!  I had another bonus Spring Day here in Texas. It is the most exciting time of the year for me. I love watching everybody (the trees and plants) come back with new life! Old Trees are like old friends, you just get to know them day after day and year after year!


I want you to know as I walk around the grounds, I keep all of You guys with me. I think about what you might like to see that maybe you have never seen before. It is still so amazing to me to be able to communicate all over the World.  I have always been an explorer looking for new life.  Everyday I am presented with new opportunities to see things I have never seen before! With the arrival of the flowers, the flying insects are coming out also! I saw one black butterfly and was determined to catch an image for You.
He was the fastest butterfly I ever followed around!!! I finally gave up and stopped. He flew up from behind and over my head to land right in front of me on the ground!  It is like he was playing a game of  leap frog with me and he won! I did get a couple of shots off for you to see him. It did not seem difficult to follow butterflies when I was a kid!


Your photostudy today is of a few spring happenings around Kates Cabin Bird Sanctuary for Leap Year. I have provided links if you care to know more about something you see. I am enjoying seeing your photos and hearing your stories. You seem to be as excited as I am about all the new things we are sharing. I thank you for coming by and sharing our blog. There are many lonely people out there we can find. There is so much Joy in life. We just need to open up and feel it!   

A Giant Leap into Spring!!!!!!! 2-29-2012

Texas Wildflowers
Discover more information at this link:
http://www.wildflower.org/

 Texas Red Fox Squirrel
Find out more at this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_squirrel

Texas Anole
Good info at this link:
  http://www.wildtexas.com/wildguides/anole.php

Swallow Tail Butterfly
More butterfly info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallowtail_butterfly

Swallow Tail Butterfly
On George Tabor Azalea
http://www.magnoliagardensnursery.com/productdescrip/Azalea_George.html

 Pink Knockout Rose
Great Rose Info:
http://www.jacksonandperkins.com/category.aspx?c=JP-Knock-Out-Roses&gclid=CKDW0Y7fxK4CFSGhtgodbCD8WQ

Texas Bald Cypress popped out!
Discover more at this link:
http://www.tree-pictures.com/bald_cypress_tree_pictures.html

Buds coming on the Flowering Dogwood Tree
More info on this tree:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_florida

 Texas Oak Tree
All Texas trees here:
http://texastreeplanting.tamu.edu/ViewAllTrees.aspx

I Love My Trees!!!!!!

I am standing in my front yard looking up at the Sky.
 H E L L O!!!

Texas Gray Squirrel:
http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/sciucaro.htm

Elm Tree Seeds
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elm

The Tulip Magnolia Tree
"Galaxy"
http://www.magnoliatreecare.net/tulip_magnolia/tulip_magnolia.html









I found this video in the Google+ Stream this morning shared by Wit Stwosz . It is not Space, but it is Nature of our Earth and People. I was amazed at how great this is:  Enjoy!

Shared to us by Christel  (Thank You)

I hope you all enjoyed Your Bonus Day of February 29, 2012


See You tomorrow!


...this is brendasue signing off from Rainbow Creek.  Keep Smiling!




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Knock Knock. Who's There? RED. Red Who? (A Woodpecker Photo Blog)

RED BELLIED WOODPECKER.  Who else would be rat-a-tat-tapping and knocking on the door???   Have You ever seen a red bellied woodpecker?  It is your lucky night, come in and have a peek!


Hi Everybody!  Welcome!


I caught this red bellied woodpecker yesterday!  Last week I spied on them building a nest! (from a distance as not to disturb them). They come to Rainbow Creek in February for the Nesting Ground! I have been seeing these 2 for 4 years now. So sharing with You tonight-the Joy.


Lost the internet earlier for most of the day. It is on now!  
Enjoy Your Woodpecker Photostudy!!

The Red Bellied Woodpecker of Rainbow Creek

Goodnight from Rainbow Creek!




For more information, check out this link:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker/id/ac



One minute video of woodpecker:

Bonus Video Tonight from our best friend Yoshio, in Japan. Thank You, Yoshio for choosing an inspiring vid for us!!


Sometimes I think:  Why are we coming together, now, in Space and Time??  Yes, we like Nature and Earth.  Yes, (sadly), we did screw up our Earth. Some of us Seniors want to fix things and make them better. Some of us might be sick or confined and feel useless.
Some of us might be lonely. However we all got to this point in time,  that the internet connection has become top priority for global communication. We have arrived! 


So today when Yoshio shared this video, it all became clear to me:


We are sharing our knowledge of Nature and desiring to fix the Earth for the Children, all the Children. They are the Shining Stars of the Future. The Internet will become the Schools. We are writing the History. Knowledge will be available to all Children that we gather on these sites. Enjoy the Show!

......this is brendasue signing off from Rainbow Creek! 
 Keep Smiling!


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The Last Winter Tour Of My Texas Trees and Bonus, Bonus for You!!

Hi Everybody! Please come in and relax for a moment!


This will be your last opportunity to view my Winter Trees. Time is changing to Spring, so are the Trees.  Here on Rainbow Creek, Spring has Sprung!  Buds are popping out from Winter's hibernation. Here come the leaves!

Oak Pollen
Texas Red Oak at Kates Cabin Bird Sanctuary on Rainbow Creek
*by:  brendasue

From this link:  http://weatherblog.abc13.com/2011/03/thats-oak-tree-pollen-youre-breathing.html

That's oak tree pollen you're breathing

Tree pollen is causing lots of people to sniffle, sneeze and wheeze.  But as bad as you might think it is, the pollen levels aren't as high as they have been in the past...or might be later on this spring.

Our research shows the oak pollen so far this year, is lower than it's been in the past five years.  Last year was much worse.  On March 31, 2010 there were over 7700 grains of oak pollen in every cubic meter of air.

The pollen counts are generated by the City of Houston Health Department.  We post the pollen forecast online and throughout the day during 13 Eyewitness News.

According to Earth Gauge, an environmental resource, our immune system mistakes allergens, like oak pollen, as invaders.  Our bodies react by releasing substances, causing us to sneeze and our nose to run.

You can reduce your exposure to pollen by keeping your windows closed. Avoid spending prolonged periods of time outdoors between 5-10 AM when trees and plants and emitting pollen into the air.  And avoid raking or mowing since this can stir up pollen which has settled on the ground.

Tree pollen levels should subside by early May.

For more information on Pollen and Pollination, see the link below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollen

Kates Cabin Bird Sanctuary is located in the Oak Prairie Wildlife District in the southern part of the Post Oak Savanah EcoRegion. I am in Waller County on the map below. The majority of trees around me are oaks.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/land/habitats/oak_prairie/regulatory/







For more information on the Trees of the Post Oak Savanah in Texas, check out this link:
http://texastreeid.tamu.edu/content/texasEcoRegions/PostOakSavanah/


Now for your photostudy of the Winter Trees in my Yard. Enjoy!

 Oak Trees, back yard

 Oak Trees

The tall Pine Trees, back yard

 The Buzzard Sun Tree, across the road.

 Rain behind the tree and sunset in front of it!

 The buzzards are gone and a crow has claimed the throne!

This is my sunset view from the backyard. This is why I ride out to the open road for sunsets sometimes!

 Sunset in the trees

Oak Trees with sun

 Sometimes, a red cross appears in my image. I do not know why.

 camillia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia


A Kiss of Spring for You from my butterfly Garden!

azalea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azalea

tiny butterfly
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly

Goodnight Everybody-See You tomorrow!  Peace be with You.

Goodbye to my winter Trees!






A Bonus Video for You:  Great Nature-Views of Earth

Tonight a Double Bonus!  I found this one on the profile posts of Gurbet Kusu:  Imagine!

Have a Great Week Everybody!  I am working on some stuff here to delight You. Thanks for coming by!


......this is brendasue signing off from Rainbow Creek.  Gator!





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