With COVID-19 still spreading throughout Texas, Bill and I have been staying close to home. This is the first time that we’ve spent an entire summer in Austin instead of escaping to cooler climates for a few weeks. Perhaps that’s why I’ve been so enchanted by the abundance of wild sunflowers in our neighborhood—I’ve never been around to appreciate them.
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On one of our cooler summer mornings (yes, we’ve had a few of those here!), I visited the Woodland Faerie Trail at Zilker Botanical Garden. These unique faerie habitats were created by local families, individuals, civic groups, and businesses. Use of local materials was encouraged, and the displays needed to be weather-resistant (although I suspect some maintenance has been required over the summer, especially after thunderstorms). This year’s exhibit remains open through August 10.
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All ages will enjoy visiting the Woodland Faerie Trail at the Zilker Botanical Garden. This shaded pathway features over 40 miniature habitats especially designed for those fanciful, but shy, creatures. The Trail can be visited now through August 10, during Zilker Garden’s regular hours from 9 AM to 6 PM. There are also two special “Moonlight” evenings on July 20 and 21.
How sweet to be a cloud. Floating in the blue! —– A. A. Milne
Photographed over Austin, Texas on June 25, 2017
Kayaking on Lady Bird Lake is now my newest favorite pastime. I’ve kayaked a bit over the years and just recently decided to take up the sport again. Lady Bird Lake is the perfect place for a relaxing paddle, especially on weekdays.
Central Texas is soaked. For almost two weeks, a stationary low pressure system pumped huge amounts of moisture into the area. The Austin airport reported 15.80″ of rainfall last month, making for the wettest May on record. Downtown Austin had no major flooding, but many homes were affected both downstream and upstream from the city.
Mount Bonnell is one of the most popular tourist destinations around Austin. The summit is about 780 feet above sea level and has panoramic views of Lake Austin. For many years this was the highest point within city limits, but that’s no longer true due to annexations.
In spite of last weekend’s damp and rainy weather, both people and plants stayed dry at the Austin Cactus and Succulent Society’s Spring Show. I had decided to visit the show at the Zilker Botanical Gardens between storms on Sunday afternoon and was very glad to find out that everything was set up indoors.
After a very mild winter, we’re having an early spring in Austin. Daytime highs have already reached over 80°, but nights are still cool. El Niño produced lots of rain last fall, but so far this year we’ve had very little moisture. Forecasters are hopeful that April and May will be wetter.
Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve is a picturesque and tranquil oasis just a short drive from downtown. This 23-acre city park sits between Lake Austin and West 35th Street, right next door to Laguna Gloria. Mayfield is a favorite destination for families, students, nature lovers, and photographers.