I live in the city. I’m pretty happy here in my concrete jungle surrounded by towering buildings, master plan housing developments, and jammed freeways. But every now and then it’s nice to leave it all behind and go exploring. My mother-in-law lives a couple of hours northwest of Dallas down a dusty farm to market road, in the middle of nowhere. On a recent visit, I brought along my camera.
Cactus in bloom.
Grasshoppers – a real problem for local farmers; cooperative subject matter for me.
I’ll be honest, the Black Widow spiders creeped me out, but not enough to keep me from trying to get just the right shot.
Of Bears and Boating 
Magnificent photos!
Thank you! I’m so glad you like them.
I have returned to this post with renewed interest, given the discussion on the Redback spider mailbox in Australia! Gosh, the two species of spiders do look so similar, don’t they? How incredible, given how far apart the US and Australia are and how long ago there was any connection in the landmasses.
I think it’s crazy, but so fascinating!
Very cool – you have mad skill with that camera! 🙂
Thank you!
Great pics. I don’t mind spiders, and I have never encountered a black widow. I would have been fascinated to see one.
I was fascinated. Then I realized that the barn was infested and everywhere you turned there were Black Widows. I had flashbacks of that scene from that Harry Potter movie…
I especially like the grasshopper on the cactus blossom. The colors in that one are great.
Thanks, Bill. I like that one, too.
See, now, there’s the difference between us. I’d have stayed the hell away from the spider. But then, I’m allergic to even non-venomous spider bites, so I don’t play near the venomous ones. Other than those shots creeping me out, those were excellent. 🙂
My mother-in-law’s barn is infested with Black Widows. I’ve never seen so many – and some of them were huge. Definitely not a place for someone with an allergy – or a phobia. I’m generally not bothered by spiders, but after realizing just how many there were, I got my shots and left. I only realized after I was home that the spider was getting ready to feast on her mate. Ewww.
The cactus were beautiful, though.
See, it’s not a phobia, I just wish them all dead. I think that’s a neurosis, really. 🙂 I don’t really care that they’re important to the ecosystem. And your right, that eating the mate thing… no thanks.
The cacti were marvellous though.