Houston Arboretum

Hello! How are you today? Today Tink, my Parents (visiting from FL), and I went to the Houston Arboretum for a short hike. It was such a nice day today. The temperature was warm, cloudy, and not too humid, which is really nice compared to the usual blazing heat this time of the year. I love the Houston Arboretum because you can really get the feel of what Houston, TX looked like before it was settled. I also always see something interesting and unexpected (today was a good one, see below!). There is an abundance of wildflowers which is great if you want some inspiration for a native plant garden. Lots of different species of birds live here too.

Beautyberry -Callicarpa americana

Buttonbush - Cephalanthus occidentalis

Missouri Ironweed - Vernonia missurica

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, there were a lot of them zooming around.

Sneezeweed - Helenium amarum

Gerardia - Agalinis heterophylla

A pond in the middle of the arboretum.

Prairie Blazingstars - Liatris pycnostachya, thriving!

Sharp-pod Morning Glory - Ipomoea trichocarpa

Scarlet Sage - Salvia coccinea

Leafy Elephant Foot - Elephantopus carolinianus

Blue Waterleaf - Hydrolea ovata

Rose-mallow, Hibiscus sp.

Bumble Bee visting Aligator Flag - Thalia dealbata

Surprise!! A Broad-banded Water Snake - Nerodia fasciata confluens. This was the first time I have seen a snake in Houston after more than four years of living here and we saw two! My Mom spotted both, she has a good eye! :D This one looks like its going to be shedding its skin soon as its eye is looking a little milky. Supposedly, a common snake in Houston. Its very pretty and non-venomous so please let them be if you see one.