Rose of Sharon


The Rose of Sharon is actually a type of Hibiscus. Is the plural "Roses of Sharon" or "Rose of Sharons?" Anyway, the one in my backyard has bloomed; I can't speak for others in the neighborhood. Photo taken in the breeze this Sunday.

Gentrification


In the spring of 2005, a pair male & female red-bellied woodpeckers carved out a nest-hole in this backyard tree. You can barely make it out in the lower lefthand corner of the photo above. In the summer some sparrows moved in. In January of 2006 the red-bellied woodpeckers were back. Later in the spring a set of downy woodpeckers moved in. Then some more sparrows took over. Finally a squirrel started running the sparrows out. Last animal I saw in there, in April, was a squirrel (only the head peaking out of the hole).
Above photo taken in January 2006. I didn't have time to get out my old Pentax & telephoto lens, so this D50 photo was just taken with a basic kit lens. Then I enlarged and cropped the hell out of it. That's my excuse.

Old Things


I like extra sharp cheese. This week I decided to shell out for some 2 year old Gouda at Central Market. The stuff was strong enough to raise the dead. I think that if you threw in a shot of an appropriately-strong whisky while eating the cheese, you might gain super powers.
In honor of old things, pictured above is a very old, very big rock (Enchanted Rock's granite is Precambrian). Look closely and you could pretend it's cheese (biting not recommended). Above photo taken on film Fall 2005. Below photo taken on film Spring 2005. Enchanted Rock is in Gillespie County.

Austin Wildlife


An interesting species, the Politico Tejas Legislatium usually meets others of its kind once every two years in the nest-like structure pictured above. The Governorus Goodhairius is often found nearby, identifiable by its distinctive call: "Adios mofo."

Below, Kinky Friedmanius - still unclassified by science:

Often found with tobacco:



Makes an interesting mobile nest.