You probably have noticed the butterflies are in migrations right now. Our flowers draw many of them to stop a while here. Last week we were in Albuquerque and I visited the butterfly house for an hour. What gentle amazing creatures. Over the years I have visisted butterfly hoouses in Victoria and Seattle so what a treat to have one so close to us. It was wonderful to observe parents teaching their small children about the butterflies. I thought you might enjoy a few of my photos.
Our property at CASA LA ENTEREZA includes a 20 acre playa. Playas are ecological keystones of our region’s water cycle and it is estimated there are 30,000 playa basins on the Texas Panhandle. We may not have rivers, but the Southern High Plains has more playas than anywhere in the world! Playas are often dry, which is normal and natural, but when filled with water after heavy rains, playas become supercharged oases of life! Though ignored and neglected, playas are among the most important and most endangered wetlands in North America. Playas also provide the main recharge to the Ogallala Aquifer, and are vital to local ecosystems and economies.
This picture shows our home reflected in our playa. The picture was taken in 2007.
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In our eight years of living here we have had the playa fill with surface water four times. The following photos show the 2010 playa after the rains.
This summer we have had almost twenty inches of rain in the past two months. It has refilled our playa and today we can hear the toads chirping and the waters are abundant with life. Pictures follow of a Playa Lake Field Day sponsored by Ogallala Commons. The first and only outdoor Playa Lake Classroom is featured in the following photos also. The next five photos were taken by Dr. Nancy E. McIntyre, PhD, Texas Tech University.
This is a Great Plains Toad:
This is a Tiger Salamander:
It is amazing to find “fairy shrimp” (beaver tail and redtail) and tadpole shrimp in a playa lake on the LLano Estacado:
For more information about Playas visit the following sites:
Ogallala Commons
Playa Classrooms
Playa lakes Joint Ventures
With the season of Spring, we get warm weather and lots of wind. Along with these challenges, we are thrilled to receive the migrating birds. Two weeks ago, our old friends, the Barn Swallows, returned to our home. For many years, we have welcomed two nests full of baby birds. Each nest is the home to two batches of babies.
Yesterday, one Bobwhite Quail of our resident covey, walked around our xeric flower bed, and then headed for the labyrinth before wandering off in the neighboring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grass!
Even though we could not get good photos we had two mornings when a flock of Lark Buntings (black-colored males and their brown-feathered female mates) stopped to forage around the house, before migrating northward.
Any day now, we will see the first Western Kingbird, as they return for their sojourn on the Southern Plains. Each morning, we are serenaded by the joyful calls of Western Meadowlarks and soulful songs of Mourning Doves. Our world of wind and sun fills more complete when punctuated by the songs of birds. How about at your homes? How are your favorite feathered residents and guests?
When the winter is long, the signs of spring are always welcome. The following photos reflect this new season of resurrection that is appearing on the grounds of Casa La Entereza, despite the ongoing cross of the drought. Our apple trees are magnificent with blossoms and various pollinators drinking their nectar. The butterfly is the first sighted in our yard. The lilacs are bursting with buds and our blue spruce is ready for new growth. All these living beings are “letting in the light.” That will be the theme of our Summer Solstice Labyrinth Retreat on Saturday, June 21, 2014 (more information in the coming weeks).
Darryl Birkenfeld and Joann Starr, owners of Casa La Entereza met with the Board of Directors and Advisory Council of Ogallala Commons (www.ogallalacommons.org) to discuss future plans for their house as a nonprofit learning center. Casa La Entereza was built seven years ago. It is situated on 46 acres of native grass and has a 28 acre playa. The house and B&B Ecolodge were built with the intention of endowing it to serve as a learning, retreat center.
Photos by: Alphonso Rincon
Casa La Entereza 