Category Archives: News
Pictures of the Day
There is one bright side to the extreme heat and drought plaguing Texas right now: it’s apparently been good for crape myrtle trees. Botanists around the Dallas area have noticed crape myrtle blossoms are more bountiful and colorful this year than in the past; possibly a reaction to the extreme weather conditions. Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) are native to China and were first brought to North America in the late 1700’s. They didn’t become popular in Texas until the 1920’s where they actually suffered due to the heat. But, horticulturists worked over time to breed sturdier crap myrtles and the result has been extraordinary.
The crape myrtle allee at the Dallas arboretum is in full bloom displaying the summery watermelon-red flowers. Photo by Brad Loper, Dallas Morning News.
‘Dynamite’ crape myrtle is a cherry-red variety with an almost neon brightness. Photo by Brad Loper, Dallas Morning News.
Young ‘Dynamite’ crape myrtles at the Dallas arboretum are in full bloom displaying the deep red flowers. Plant breeders have been working to improve this Southern favorite to make them flower longer with more vivid colors and to make them less prone to diseases. Photo by Brad Loper, Dallas Morning News.
Crape myrtle called ‘Natchez’ with its white flowers and beautiful bark pattern at the Dallas arboretum in Dallas. Botanist Don Egolf developed this hybrid from the 1960’s to the 1980’s. Photo by Brad Loper, Dallas Morning News.
Crape myrtle called ‘Natchez’ with its red bark pattern at the Dallas arboretum in Dallas. These hybrid trees not only exhibit superior powdery mildew resistance, but also colorful exfoliating bark in tones of tan, orange and brown. Photo by Brad Loper, Dallas Morning News.
Crape myrtle alley at the Dallas arboretum is in full bloom displaying the watermelon red flowers. Photo by Brad Loper, Dallas Morning News.
A crape myrtle at the World Collection Park in McKinney, texas. The town recently opened the World Collection Park, planted with all known species and varieties, and 15 miles of boulevards planted with the hardy flowering trees and shrubs. Photo by Louis DeLuca, Dallas Morning News.
A scenic shot of the crape myrtle trees looking north near the intersection of Alma and Stacy in McKinney. The town recently opened the World Collection Park, planted with all known species and varieties, and 15 miles of boulevards planted with the hardy flowering trees and shrubs. Photo by Louis DeLuca, Dallas Morning News.
McKinney has a new World Collection Park, planted with all known crape myrtles species and varieties, and 15 miles of boulevards planted with the hardy flowering trees and shrubs. Photo by Louis DeLuca, Dallas Morning News.
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Pictures of the Day
These are just a handful of the 25 new coral reef fish species discovered in recent years in the South China and Andaman Seas. Scientists don’t consider any of these newly-identified fish endangered. They’re all profiled in the book Reef Fishes of the East Indies, published last month by the University of Hawaii Press. All photographs from National Geographic.
Fairy Basslet (Pseudanthias mica) – Photograph courtesy Gerald Allen, Conservation International
Tripod Fish (Pteropsaron longipinnis) – Photograph courtesy Gerald Allen, Conservation International
Clingfish (Aspasmichthys alorensis) – Photograph courtesy Gerald Allen, Conservation International
A school of anthias fish feeds over a reef in Indonesia’s Komodo National Marine Park in the Coral Triangle – Photograph by Mauricio Handler, National Geographic
Candy Striper (Lepidichthys akiko) – Photograph courtesy Gerald Allen, Conservation International
Fairy Goby (Tryssogobius sarah) – Photograph courtesy Gerald Allen, Conservation International
Scorpionfish (Pteroidichthys amboinensis) – Photograph courtesy Roger Steene, Conservation International
Giant Frogfish (Antennarius commersoni) – Photograph courtesy Roger Steene, Conservation International
Dwarf Goby (Eviota rubriceps) – Photograph courtesy Gerald Allen, Conservation International
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Video of the Day
This is startling home video of a wrong way driver on Highway 49 in Collin, Mississippi. The apparently unconscious driver collided with another vehicle, but amazingly, everyone survived. The wrong way driver says he doesn’t recall the incident, but police are investigating.
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Quote of the Day
“Eight years was awesome, and I was famous and I was powerful. But I have no desire for fame and power anymore.”
– President George W. Bush, in an interview with the Hoover Institute.
I agree strongly with the second part of that statement.
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Pictures of the Day
These new displays of aurora lights are courtesy of the recent solar storm. It may have knocked out some telecommunications. But, the trade off is great!
Darfield, New Zealand
Lake Charles, near Québec City, Canada
Lake Superior, Michigan
Crater Lake, Oregon
Southern New Zealand
Lake Superior, Michigan
Hutchinson, Minnesota
Sky above northern Michigan
Oreti River, southern New Zealand
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Chief Writing Wolf 