Sunday, April 06, 2008

South Texas

Bouganvilla in my folks' yard.



Jo and I are in South Texas near Corpus Christi (Aransas Pass to be exact) visiting my folks and her Mom. We made this quick trip -- if driving for 16 hours can be called a "quick trip" -- because my Mom was released from rehab following a stroke. Most of our time is being spent with relatives, but we've manage to sneak away every once and a while to take a few photos and walk the dogs along the channel that runs from Aransas Pass to Port Aransas and then into the Gulf of Mexico.



Chinaberry Blooms


Chinaberry is a nasty invasive tree that has naturalize throughout the south. This fast-growing tree can form dense thickets that crowd out native vegetation. Chinaberry fruit is poisonous to humans and small mammals. Leaves and roots release compounds that inhibit the germination and growth of other plant species (allelopathy).


As a kid, I did my share in helping the spread of this invasive. Chinaberries are often the projectile of choice of small boys interested in "chunking" something at their friends.



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11 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I can just see you haveing a china berry fight in your youth Marvin.

This is a very pretty part of TX. My Mom and Dad used to winter on Red Fish Bay. The towns you mentioned sound familar.

I hope your Mom recovers quickly.

Lana Gramlich said...

Sorry about your mom--blessings to all. Lovely photos. That bouganvilla is stunning!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

The photos are beautiful. Sounds like that other plant is just as bad as bouganvillia! We have a lot of trouble with it here is Australia.

Cheers,

David Webb: Pictures of Nature

Tom said...

I hope alls well in the family..
On a lighter note I laughed at the thought of you throwing those berries.. we did much the same and I guess all over the world things get chucked at friends just for the fun of it... I now chuck the odd insult there way in a friendly way of course.
Tom

Anonymous said...

I like the photos you posted today. Nice work.

Abraham Lincoln in Brookville, Ohio where you can see a tiny fly on a honey bee's wing.

smilnsigh said...

Beautiful photos.

Best of luck to your mom!!!!!!!

Mari-Nanci

Anonymous said...

Cool flowers and I think I like the Chinaberry blooms best!

Q said...

Hi Marvin,
Thinking of you and yours. I remember when my Mom had a stroke.
Nice you are able to take a break and get outside in nature. Everything seems better when I am outside.
Sherry

Texas Travelers said...

Incredibly sharp bougainvillea blooms.

Hope everything is going well.

I like the chinaberry blooms also. Those berries really go in a slingshot. They will make a squirrel fly.

Kerri Farley said...

Lovely shots of the flowers! I especially like the Chinaberry.

Hope your Mom is doing better!!