photo curtesy of Dave http://www.flickr.com/photos/grizdave/

The strangest thing happened to me the other day…

Hiking in an uncharted  patch of the Patch, I noticed that I was ascending, I climbed steadily uphill for about two solid hours.  I suddenly came to a clearing on top of a huge rock, it seems my rock was one of three holey rocks in the range, towering up out of the lower jungle verbena canopy.  Stunned by the breathtaking view I sat down for a brief rest and one of my first ripe satsumas. In the far off distance my eyes were drawn to a small wisp of fire smoke on the valley floor, could it be another faction of the Naboo tribe perhaps?

Curiosity got the better of me, I had to find out.  I checked my rations and decided although not enough, I would find some food on the way. I saw a small trail to the side of me that looked like it wound its way down the rock-face in front of me.

I checked my compass, pulled up my long socks – “English style” (just below the knee, just high enough to look totally ridiculous)…

and set off down the holey rock escarpment.  I descended this Texas holey rock to a ledge, where, to my surprise, I found an enormous rope bridge stretching all the way across the valley to another one of the rocky mountains, I decided to make the perilous crossing across this rickety bridge. Who could have built such a structure? Where would it lead?

As I ventured down the length of the bridge I noticed that it terminated on the far side inside a cave.

Photograph by joint British-Vietnamese Caving Expedition 2009 / Barcroft Media Ltd.

A rather large cave as it turned out. There were a lot of strange subterranean creatures lurking in the shadows, and lots and lots of moths, attracted to the torch I had just lit. I have never had as many moths as I have had this year, they are everywhere in the patch right now, clouds of them.

That is quite the hair cut.

What incredible camouflage this moth had on this old Post Oak leaf

The cave had one rather annoying inhabitant that would not shut up about a ring. I quickly threw him a fish from my backpack (which struck me as very odd, as I had no recollection where it came from or how it got in their) and headed toward the cave exit.

Emerging out of the cave there was some really dense, tropical foliage. Sago palms, and potato vines made walking a lot harder.

Clambering through a dense thicket of Fatsia japonica  I could see the small white flower clusters developing, getting ready for an end of year bloom.

Just like the fragrant mist flowers these also make the flies and insects go wild. I have four of these, they make great foliage fillers and add a really tropical appearance, with their large glossy leaves.

And what funky, poached-egg flower structures they have.

Continuing forward I found the small trail again, which led me to this,  I can only assume it is some ancient temple of architectural significance. It looks like the central tower is a messaging beacon of sorts, although it was presently unlit, I could see what looked like the burnt remains of a fire at the very top.

As I was marveling at the Agave temple, the heavens suddenly opened up,

This Familiar Bluet damsel fly took refuge under this overhead canopy.

I took shelter and ate some Barbados cherries picked from a nearby bush. Pulling my jacket tightly around me I shut my eyes and rested.

I awoke to this motley crew, banging their spears on the ground, and wearing what looked to be modified chimineas as rather cumbersome headdresses.  My eyes focused in on the particularly silly looking mask in the background,  it’s jolly expression disturbing me to the core. What WAS this tribe… Naboo in ancient origin perhaps?  I tried a few mouth clicks combined with some rudimentary tribal gestures that I knew, but they garnered no response, in fact they bound and gagged me, ensuring I did no more. I needed Bob at Draco Gardens to appear, with his superior tribal translation talents.

They tied me up to a log and transported me through the verbena jungle…I feared the worst. My anxiety rose even more as we passed these tiny impaled bodies.

I felt nauseous. Looking up at all these gummy corpses. Was this to be my fate in the Patch?  Impaled on a massive sacrificial barrel cactus like a gummy bear?

I screamed out, then screamed some more Ahhhhhhhh!                                  then…

 

…I must have woken my wife up uttering the words…“No, no, click clack …please..click…nooooooo”! Because the next thing I remember is being jabbed in the ribs, and hearing:  “Your having a bad dream and quit all your mouth clicking!  it is four in the morning, your going to wake the kids!”

That explains how Gollom’s fish got into my backpack.

“That was one crazy night, huh D?”

Happenings happening in the Patch this week…

The late afternoon sun seemed captured in this small purple Philippine violet vessel.

Barleria cristata

The aesthetically sharp top foliage of this plant is almost aloe-like in form, a great contrast to the soft, purple trumpet blooms. A dependable performer. I just wish the blooms lasted a little longer, they bloom and drop quite fast it seems.

I have been trying to get a shot of one of these large wasps for quite some time.  They have been visiting my amaranth from the moment it started to bloom.  The most unnerving thing about these wasps is not only their sheer size, (this one was a smallish one) but the way they scurry around…they are extremely agile. I assumed that they would also be fast to sting, so I have been approaching them from afar, at arms length with the camera. Today though I managed to get in closer, and it did not mind at all.

These are cicada killer wasps., and they can get to1-½ to 2 inches in length.

Sphecius speciosus (Drury)

These wasps are large, solitary, ground dwelling wasps that provision their homes with cicadas after stinging and paralyzing them. Larvae feed only on cicadas, and the adult will feed on flower nectar.

Fly away cicada, fly away!

Artemisia and Cosmos…ice and fire

A fall gathering.

This Desert Trumpet Vine, just continues to bloom and bloom. Bumper year this year.  These flower clusters are about a foot around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to finish with this very intestinal potato vine, just to gross you out before saying …

“FRREEEDOOOOM”!

You didn’t think this post could escape this sacrifice did you?

 

Stay Tuned for:

“The Company of Wolves”

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