Nature Galleries

Astronomy pictures and space phenomena : These pictures are of astronomy subjects, space exploration, aurora borealis, and other natural phenomena. They were gathered from miscellaneous sources, such as NASA, NOAA, Smithsonian, and other sources.

Astronomy pictures and space phenomena

These pictures are of astronomy subjects, space exploration, aurora borealis, and other natural phenomena. They were gathered from miscellaneous sources, such as NASA, NOAA, Smithsonian, and other sources.

Updated: Jan 18, 2009 4:39am PST

Texas Forest Service Firewise Seminar at HE Butt Foundation Camp : This gallery covers our trip to and from and participation at the Texas Forest Service's seminar on Volunteers in Firewise activities. The participants covered here are David Allen, Margaret Baker, and Kay Mayfield from the San Marcos/Wimberley area. We carpooled to the conference, which was held at the magnificent HE Butt Echo Valley Camp north of Leakey, Texas on the Frio River. This conference was attended by about 40 people on April 7-9, 2008. I want to offer my personal thanks to the Texas Forest Service for their insight and initiative in organizing and conducting this seminar. I also want to thank the HE Butt Foundation for being the gracious host for this event at their magnficent and gorgeous Echo Valley Camp. As the creator of this album, I want to take this opportunity to dedicate it to my dear, close friend, Jan Fulkerson. Jan's title with the Texas Forest Service is Urban Wildlife Interface Specialist. To me, Jan is the compelling lady who, in her dutiful role as UWI Specialist, came and spoke to our Property Owner's Association at a Neighbor's Night Out gathering on August 2, 1995. She motivated and inspired us in Summer Mountain Ranch to get busy and become a Firewise Community. We received our award and recognition as a Firewise Community on April 22, 2006. Jan, I thank you on behalf of myself, certainly, but also on behalf of all us neighbors in Summer Mountain Ranch, for your guidance, motivation, and inspiration in us achieving Firewise Community recognition!

Texas Forest Service Firewise Seminar at HE Butt Foundation Camp

This gallery covers our trip to and from and participation at the Texas Forest Service's seminar on Volunteers in Firewise activities. The participants covered here are David Allen, Margaret Baker, and Kay Mayfield from the San Marcos/Wimberley area. We carpooled to the conference, which was held at the magnificent HE Butt Echo Valley ...

Updated: Apr 30, 2008 3:35pm PST

Mushrooms found on my Central Texas property : These pictures were taken of mushrooms growing naturally on my property near San Marcos, Texas. This area is not humid or rainy, averaging only 33 inches annual rainfall.

Mushrooms found on my Central Texas property

These pictures were taken of mushrooms growing naturally on my property near San Marcos, Texas. This area is not humid or rainy, averaging only 33 inches annual rainfall.

Updated: May 03, 2007 12:13pm PST

Katydids? or what are they? : These pictures I took of a Katydid "looking" insect I have been seeing the last few days (of July and August) in the San Marcos, Texas area. I looked up Internet pictures for both katydids and cicadas. The Online pics I found do NOT look exactly like these bugs. One website says there are many kinds of katydids. I think these are one of those many kinds. As a matter of scale, these bugs are about 3 to 4 inches in total body length, not counting their long antennae, which are about two inches long. Anyone who views these pics is welcomed to leave me a message as to your opinion about them. (Thanks) Thanks to leads from Carl Strickland and Wade Strickland, I learned that this insect's proper name is Greater arid-land predaceous Katydid.

Katydids? or what are they?

These pictures I took of a Katydid "looking" insect I have been seeing the last few days (of July and August) in the San Marcos, Texas area. I looked up Internet pictures for both katydids and cicadas. The Online pics I found do NOT look exactly like these bugs. One website says there are many kinds of katydids. I think these are one ...

Updated: Aug 12, 2007 4:42pm PST

Snow crystals and snow scenes : These pictures of snow crystals and snow scenes are included for their sheer beauty. Some are from the Internet. Some are from other sources.

Snow crystals and snow scenes

These pictures of snow crystals and snow scenes are included for their sheer beauty. Some are from the Internet. Some are from other sources.

Updated: Dec 14, 2006 5:00pm PST