Author: Anita Westervelt

  • Anita’s Blog — “All Night Long”

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    Anita Westervelt
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    A friend called and said, “It’s spring, why don’t you write about the mockingbird? Why do they sing all night long?” So, don’t you know, Lionel Richie’s 1983 hit single, “All Night Long,” has been going through my head — especially the last couple of days while I’ve been photographing everything moving, chirping or blooming…

  • What’s the difference?

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    Anita Westervelt

    Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist The first task when identifying a plant is to find its botanical name. Once you have that, it’s easy to use a search engine and find information. Finding a botanical name is easy when using a mobile device. Many apps can help identify plants, birds, bugs…

  • Anita’s Blog — Bee Funny; Bee Friendly

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    Anita Westervelt
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    It was a warm and windy morning. I was checking the native basket flowers, Plectocephalus americanus, for pollinators. A tiny bee, possibly a ligated furrow bee, was minding its own business wallowing in the pollen in the flower head when suddenly another bee launched on top of it. I already had my phone camera at…

  • Anita’s Blog — Trees Like Colorful Easter Eggs

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    Anita Westervelt
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    My mouth was agape in a most un-lady-like fashion the first time I spied a blue tree. Yes, blue! And again, the other evening, an audible gasp escaped my lips as I exited a fast-food strip mall in San Benito. The distant visage of the blue-in-the-sky tree reminded me of a giant Easter egg piñata…

  • Anita’s Blog — Pandemic Project # 8

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    Anita Westervelt
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    Did you catch Dr. Phil’s (McGraw) brief segment on the news this week? “Get up, get dressed, get active, get busy,” were his recommendations to keep from getting depressed during self-isolation. “Find a project,” he continued, “something you can put on a timeline — and hold yourself accountable.” View Dr. Phil’s show at these links:…

  • Rosy roseate spoonbills

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    Anita Westervelt

    Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist If it’s a pink bird you see flying around coastal Texas, it’ll be a roseate spoonbill migrating back to the coastal shores and resacas. In flight, the roseate spoonbill looks all pink. When wading, it’s easier to see their true colors. Adult roseate spoonbills have no…