Visions by Chery, 3333 Butterfly Park Dr., Mission, TX (2026)

10/08/2026

Marsh Fleabanes (Pluchea odorata) | Summer 2026 | Rio Hondo, Texas
Cactus Creek Ranch
CCR Nature Lessons 37

This hardy native plant thrives all around the ponds at Cactus Creek Ranch. It tolerates salty conditions, often growing at the edge of fresh or brackish water and on saline ground. During the drought, it was a crucial plant on the ranch. It bloomed when other plants didn’t, providing a food source for pollinators and predators often seen hunting nearby; it also serves as a host plant for butterflies, skippers, and native moths to lay their eggs. I saw butterflies, bees, skippers, wasps, flies, dragonflies, and spiders. Each visit to the plants brought a new surprise.

If you crush the leaves between your fingers, they release a distinct, herbal, camphor-like scent that naturally keeps deer and rabbits from snacking on them. It’s a tough, sun-loving plant that shows how beautiful and resilient it can be in harsh environments.

10/06/2026

Front Ponds | Sept. 2026 | Rio Hondo, Texas
Cactus Creek Ranch
CCR Lesson 36

The front ponds at Cactus Creek Ranch have been very active. When temperatures are in the 100s and water levels are low, all kinds of animals gather at the pond. The fish are gulping at the surface, sending up little bubbles that shimmer in the sunlight. The alligators are well fed, so they glide alongside the birds, who are finding plenty to eat as well. One alligator swam right around the birds without a care, though it wasn’t so welcoming to another alligator and chased it off. Then a carp heading toward shore rolled over, only to turn and swim back out. A little later, a turtle was doing its best to nudge a dead fish toward the bank. It will be interesting to see what happens next.

When a drought hits, small ponds feel it first. There’s less rain, and the sun pulls water out fast, so the pond keeps shrinking until it’s little more than a shallow puddle compared to what it was. The water gets warmer and holds less oxygen, which is rough on the fish, and you start to see some of them die off. Meanwhile, everything else still needs that same water. Turtles, gators, birds, and fish all end up crammed into whatever is left. This is where keeping native land and water access intact makes a real difference. Native plants along the banks provide shade, soak up runoff, and keep the soil damp longer, and when waterways stay connected, animals can move to another spot instead of getting stuck in a dried-up pond. Protecting that kind of habitat won’t stop a drought, but it gives wildlife a fighting chance to get through it and recover once the rain finally comes back. That is why Cactus Creek Ranch is such a vital refuge for the area’s native wildlife.

09/27/2026

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds | Sept. 2026 | Rio Hondo, Texas
Cactus Creek Ranch
CCR Nature Lesson 35

Cactus Creek Ranch has had many migrating visitors this month, emphasizing the crucial role native wildlife ranches like Cactus Creek Ranch play in supporting wildlife. By preserving local brush and native plants, they ensure these tiny travelers can return to the spots they remember. They know they can find a safe and nourishing place to rest and refuel. Hummingbirds have an incredible internal GPS, so many of the same birds they see today are the ones who visited last year; this is called “site fidelity.”

Every fall, ruby-throated hummingbirds make a demanding journey as they migrate through the Rio Grande Valley. After breeding as far north as Canada, they fly down through Texas in September and October, fattening up on nectar and insects before many attempt a nonstop flight. Adult males, with their iridescent red throats, tend to move through first, followed by females and juveniles, and on a good “fallout” day after a cold front, dozens of hungry migrants can mob feeders at once.

09/21/2026

Tornillo | Summer 2026 | Rio Hondo, Texas
Cactus Creek Ranch
CCR Nature Lesson 34

Tornillo (Spanish for screw): Dwarf Screwbean (Strombocarpa cinerascens) (formerly Prosopis reptans), also known as Screw Bean Mesquite (Strombocarpa pubescens).

Cactus Creek Ranch supports and encourages native habitat to attract native wildlife to the property. It was very valuable during our long drought season, as it thrived through the toughest heat.
It is a “host” for many butterfly species that lay their eggs on it. It also provides nectar for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, and its low, dense growth also offers shelter for small wildlife. It blooms in March, April, May, June, July, and August, and it’s a highly resilient, low-growing native shrub or subshrub found primarily in southern Texas and northern Mexico. This fascinating plant produces tightly coiled seed pods that look just like tiny corkscrews.

Researching this particular plant turned into a fun adventure, and finding its name wasn’t easy! Mary Jo, the ranch owner, and I reached out to many wonderful experts, and we’re so thankful for their help. We appreciate The McCracken Lab Corpus Christi, John Brush, Urban ecologist, Jann Miller, President of the Native Plant Project, and Roberto Gaitan, President of the Native Plant Society of Texas Rio Grande Valley, for helping us identify this plant.

I included some images from local artist Rachel Nagy, a nature jewelry artisan from Harlingen, Texas. Rachel creates jewelry from Tornillo seed pods with sterling silver, copper, and beads. You can find her jewelry at Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen, Texas.

09/20/2026

Texas Horned Lizard | Sept. 15, 2026 | Rio Hondo, Texas
Cactus Creek Ranch
CCR Nature Lesson 33

The Texas horned lizard is listed as a threatened species across the entire state of Texas, including South Texas, by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Conservation Status: State Threatened (ST)Protection: It is illegal to take, possess, transport, or sell Texas horned lizards without a special scientific permit.

It’s a privilege to see a success story at Cactus Creek Ranch. Mary Jo, the owner, has created a remarkable safe haven for Texas horned lizards. To keep them safe while they eat, the ranch places shelters over some ant mounds, giving the lizards a cozy spot to enjoy their favorite meal without fear of predators. Since I started photographing here five months ago, I’ve spotted many horned lizards, and I’m thrilled to see that they’ve been reproducing successfully. Seeing so many young lizards is a direct result of the ranch’s conservation efforts. This property is vital for the wildlife in South Texas.

I recently watched one of the young lizards under a shelter as it tried (unsuccessfully) to catch some food, then burrowed itself into the ground. They bury themselves to hide from predators, regulate their temperature, and sleep. Even as tiny hatchlings, they’re completely independent and able to bury themselves for protection. Watching its little tail wiggle was the funniest part.

09/20/2026

Front Pond | Sept. 18, 2026 | Rio Hondo, Texas
Cactus Creek Ranch
CCR Nature Lesson 32

The front pond at Cactus Creek Ranch felt peaceful and quiet despite all the activity. As the drought lingered, the shoreline stretched, and the water slowly shrank. Watching all sorts of birds gather and fish together side by side was enjoyable. Fish would leap out of the pond, making it another day of easy feasts for the birds. The morning light cast a warm glow across the water, creating lovely scenes. On my way out, we noticed more little reminders of the drought along the trail. A piece of turtle shell, a dead crab, and a dead fish, all likely left behind as the water pulled back, offering easy meals for the local wildlife.

09/18/2026

American Alligator | Sept. 17, 2026 | Rio Hondo, Texas
Cactus Creek Ranch
CCR Nature Lesson 31

I enjoyed some entertainment at the front pond of Cactus Creek Ranch. Due to the drought, we’re seeing more alligators gathering at the remaining ponds on the property, searching for water wherever they can find it. This alligator was taking advantage of the drought by hanging out at the front pond, which is receding. The fish are plentiful, and all he had to do was swim around and open his mouth. I did see him go after a large fish, which he had to roll to get. They can’t chew, so they either swallow prey whole or tear it into chunks using the death roll. Big adults can go weeks or even months between meals, living off fat stored in the tail. The birds on the shoreline were not fazed by his presence. He was filling up on fish and had no intention of taking a bird for a meal that day.

The American alligator has quietly called the Rio Grande Valley home for generations, living in the resacas, canals, and marshes around places like Laguna Atascosa, which Cactus Creek Ranch borders. Mostly shy and happy to keep to itself, it digs the water holes that other wildlife depend on through dry spells. Its diet includes fish, turtles, snakes, birds, and mammals like raccoons, and occasionally feral hogs or deer when the opportunity arises.

09/13/2026

Cloud Iridescence and Front Pond Activity 2 | Sept 8, 2026 | Rio Hondo, Texas
Cactus Creek Ranch
CCR Nature Lesson 30

I’ve been spending extra time at the front pond at Cactus Creek Ranch lately, since the drought over the past few months has changed everything. With the water receding, there’s been a burst of activity with wildlife gathering, looking for food as the fish were poking their heads out of the water.

I even got to witness something new I hadn’t seen before: cloud iridescence. It was beautiful for the short amount of time it was visible as the birds flew in. A magical moment on Cactus Creek Ranch.

Cloud iridescence is a phenomenon where colorful patches appear on the edges of thin clouds near the sun. This occurs when similarly sized water droplets or ice crystals diffract sunlight, creating pastel rainbow bands. Unlike rainbows, cloud iridescence doesn’t require rain and forms close to the sun, typically on wispy clouds like altocumulus or cirrus.

09/13/2026

Wild Pigs | Summer 2026 | Rio Hondo, Texas
Cactus Creek Ranch
CCR Nature Lesson 29

Over the summer, I watched a group of wild pigs on the ranch as their piglets grew. It was fun to watch the little ones wrestle. I saw them splashing in the pond, rolling in the muddy banks, and even saw a mother grooming her piglet.

Wild pigs, also known as wild boar or feral hogs, are among the most common animals in Texas. South Texas, in particular, has some of the highest pig populations in the country.

Wild pigs thrive in South Texas, especially in areas with thick brush, water sources, and plenty of food like acorns and fruit. These pigs are very adaptable and eat almost anything—plants, insects, small animals, and crops. They live in family groups called sounders and reproduce quickly, with sows able to have two litters of 4–6 piglets each year. Adults usually weigh between 100–250 pounds, but some can get even larger. Piglets are born with striped camouflage that fades as they grow.

Although many view them as damaging, rooting can aid seed dispersal and soil turnover in small doses. They eat carrion (the decaying flesh of dead animals), which can play a small role in nutrient cycling.

09/07/2026

I’m thrilled to share that one of my photos taken at Cactus Creek Ranch of the Texas horned lizard was selected for this exhibition. I’m honored to be included in a show with many talented photographers from across Texas. This exhibition highlights a variety of work celebrating our state’s beauty. I hope you can visit the Williamson Museum in Georgetown, Texas, on Oct. 2nd to see the work of these talented photographers.

Visions by Chery

10/08/2026

10/06/2026

09/27/2026

09/21/2026

09/20/2026

09/20/2026

09/18/2026

09/13/2026

09/13/2026

09/07/2026

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