Today's Encounter With Nature

By chance, I had no classes to teach today, so I took the time to notice nature around me. In the early morning,  a bird sang sweetly somewhere in the front yard. The song cycled around to different tunes, over and over. By being very patient and quiet, I finally could see him way high up on a branch of the avocado tree. Turns out it was a tropical mockingbird (Mimus gilvus). The Nahuatl word for this species is Centzontle. I found a photo of it online: 

Later, in the early afternoon, I decided to take a walk by myself. (Usually, I'm accompanied by one or more dogs and my partner.) 

I walked for a while, then sat above the dry riverbed near the Calzada de la Aurora bridge. Today has turned out to be warm and breezy, a little gusty. A little shrubby tree is beginning to bloom. What is it? I took a photo:

From my Plant.net app I learned its scientific name,  Bauhinia lunarioides. Common names: Anacacho orchid tree, Anacacho Bauhinia, and Texas Plum. It's a member of the Fabaceae, the Pea Family.

I learned, from the Wildflower.org site that it's native only to a few canyons in western central Texas and northeastern Mexico. The one I'm looking at was planted by the neighbors of Colonia Guadalupe to beautify the river walk. It was a good choice because not only is it beautiful, it's fast-growing and drought-resistant. And, the flowers attract butterflies and bees. 

The genus is named after Swiss herbalist brothers, John and Caspar Bauhin, who lived in the middle of the 17th century. 

Days such as today are wonderful chances to slow down, notice nature around me, and become aware of the questions that naturally arise. 

Being alone in nature has nurtured my spirit.