Nikki's Photography

The great thing about Zinnias is that cutting the flowers for bouquets encourages them to create more. They thrive here in my Lewisville garden, Texas

Afternoon sunbeams, Lewisville, TX

Parts of the I30 and I35 highways (Texas) were closed as a series of explosions at Southwest Industrial Gases Inc., located next to downtown Dallas, sent flaming debris into the air for more than half an hour, July 25th.

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Sombra, my visiting sister-in-law’s dog, found a nest of 5 baby rabbits in our back yard. I never would have found them otherwise, even though the nest was buried in a busy spot in the garden. The nest of fur and straw was a perfect bowl shape, covered by perennials. The little bunnies squealed and shrieked so loudly, it was hard to believe that sound came from such tiny 4 inch-long creatures. I didn’t want to handle them much because I was afraid the mother might not return to care for them if they were human-scented, but they had to be protected from Sombra, who would not leave them alone. I put them in a box, then when Suzanne and I left with Sombra to drive to Alberta, Alain put them back in the nest, covered them up again, and put celery, lettuce and carrots out every evening to entice the mama bunny back. At least one did survive because I saw it later that year in the back yard, along with the older bunnies who venture in year-round.

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Lepidoptera Papilioninae – In Andrew Brown Park, Coppell, Texas there were 20-30 Swallowtails fluttering in a small patch of wild vetch. The butterflies were nowhere else in the park except this one spot. I was mesmerized watching the flashes of black and metallic blue against the green and violet plants.

Firewheels – Gaillardia – en masse! Andrew Brown Park, Coppell, TX

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No fear; Dove nesting in the wreath beside the back door, Lewisville, TX

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Howler Youth, Dallas World Aquarium, Dallas, Texas. The Howlers are m favorite subject at the DWA, which is really so much more than an aquarium. They are very difficult to photograph though, because they curl up together just beyond the branches.

Cottontop Tamarin, DW Aquarium, Dallas, TX

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Bluebonnets, Texas’ official State flower, Andrew Brown Park, Coppell, TX

Redbuds, New Oak leaves and webs on a foggy Spring morning in Coppell, TX

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