Mother Nature in all her Glory

This week Chica and I struck out again walk-wise, given that Mary and five other ladies toured the Botanical Garden instead of walking in Brackenridge Park. (Dogs only get to go to the Garden four weekends a year. Why not make it EVERY day?).

Staff member Scott Litsche took them to see the native area, where blooming plants like guajillo, white brush, huisache and sundry wildflowers such as salvias were in full bloom. The walkers were particularly taken with the bird watch, where 211 species have been spotted.

Turns out the ladies could have seen nearly as much nature in the raw in Mary’s yard this week. For starters a green chrysalis hanging on the porch rail became translucent yesterday with a rolled-up monarch butterfly clearly visible inside.

Since Mary had never seen the emergence before, she didn’t know how imminent it was. While she was indoors briefly, the butterfly exited its cramped quarters. When she and Lewis stepped outside they saw it hanging upside down next to the chrysalis husk. Since Chica and I were on the front porch, we had a front row seat during the entire drama.

Later that same day, Lewis encountered a tiny wren’s nest with six speckled eggs when he went to move a stack of boxes in the corner of the carport. He hated to move it but workmen were preparing to pour cement for a new driveway.

So he placed the nest as close as he could, on top of the adjoining fence. We all have our fingers crossed (though that is definitely a metaphorical expression for us dogs.)

Next Monday, the ladies will return to Brackenridge Park where no doubt we will witness more of Mother Nature’s wonders. In spring it seems, they never cease.