Common Buckeye, Mating

I saw this beauty at the Fort Worth Nature Preserve. They were too busy to fly away and let me get really close

Texas Spring

At last some beauty in this flat, parched land. The Nature Preserve was a riot of spring wildflowers, cactus, yucca and that famous Texas sky.

Clark Botanic Gardens

Wow. Why have I not heard of this place until now? Thirty-five landscaped acres of gardens created by one guy,
located half way between Fort Worth and Weatherford. Acres of iris, ponds full of water lilies, poppies everywhere, woodland paths, fountains, islands, swans, peacocks, the Clark Botanic Garden is a lush wonderland in the middle of the Texas prairie. It's like the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens only bigger, prettier and without the traffic in the middle. We appeared to be the only people there on a May Saturday.

Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway

How did we manage to pick a cool, moist, overcast spring day to visit Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway? Good for me, bad for photographs. I love these cactus. They're everywhere.

Silk Stocking Bed and Breakfast

The motivation for a trip to Mineral Wells was a gift certificate for a one night's stay at the Silk Stocking Bed and Breakfast that I bought at the annual auction for the Alzheimer's Association. I always wanted to go inside one of those big, old Victorian houses. Now I got to spend the night. Thanks, Chuck and Wilene for an enjoyable stay. Breakfast was fantastic. But oh my gosh is the place over decorated.

Mineral Wells, Texas

Last weekend, I took the family on a mini vacation to the small Texas town of Mineral Wells, oh 'bout an hour's drive from Fort Worth. Once famous for its nasty tasting water, which was said to have curing properties, and bolstered economically by a military base, since closed, Mineral Wells is a shadow of its former self.
Like so many small towns, it's Main Street (actually Oak St.) has been emptied by competition from the local WalMart.