March stroll to Blunn Creek

Today I took an adventure back to Blunn Creek. It is a beautiful day here in Austin, Texas with the temperature resting at a delightful seventy nine degrees give or take and the sun out shining bright without being blocked by clouds. I decided to come here today because for once it is not rainy and second, because I needed a little piece of home. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, Blunn Creek reminds me of Baird Creek back home in Green Bay, Wisconsin. As I walked into the reservation, I noticed the difference in color compared to the last time I had been here. I took pictures of different flowers, which I attached pictures of and included scientific names. I used the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website to help me identify them. They were yellow, pink, white, blue, and purple. The blue is purple is due to all the Blue Bonnets. I learned just a few weeks ago that that is the state flower of Texas. They are all over the hill that lies behind my dormitory, so I get to see their vibrant color everyday. Along with the flowers, I came across a few animals. For starters, there was a monarch butterfly fluttering around some of the “prickly pear” cactuses. Its intense orange color is hard to miss. Furthermore, I encountered a miniature butterfly that was also orange once I got near the creek but it was fluttering too quickly for me to identify the species and take a picture. Along with the butterflies, there was a bee roaming around my backpack. I did not take a chance in getting close to it. The last thing I want is a painful sting. I am sitting near where I sat last time, yet in this area there is less litter. Perhaps that is because it is closer to the entrance of the park. Nevertheless, I saw this as a positive thing. The water is not rushing like it was before, but there has not been much rainfall since the beginning of spring break. The plants may be thirsty, but I am grateful that I do not have to arrive to class soaking wet. Along with the colors listed above, I cannot forget to mention the green that remains the permanent color of the bushes on the banks of the creek. All this reminds me of one thing: Spring is officially here! Hooray! On another note, I was really hoping that I would see a frog during my visit. I am sitting on a rock near a shallow patch of moss in the water and I searched hard for a little slimy head with beady eyes but was disappointed to find nothing. However, overall, I am happy that I picked this day to come out and enjoy the beautiful features of Blunn Creek. In correlation to my last reflection, I have been much less stressed on days like today. There is something about the sun that just makes me want to smile and be grateful for the life that I get to live everyday. In addition, the nice weather some how makes me more motivated. I think that may be because I can sit outside on a picnic table, enjoy my surroundings, and do my homework all at the same time. Although I have been less stressed, I have had more difficulty sleeping. I am not sure if that has to do with the weather but it would be interesting to start keeping a diary of that too. To close this post, I will like to provide readers with a quote from the Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold. When speaking of a Northern spring flower called Draba, he writes, “He who searches for spring with his knees in the mud finds it, in abundance” (26). Today, I went searching for spring.