Bald cypress trees in a fishing pond of Central Park. College Station, Texas, December 5, 2009
Bald cypress trees in Central Park pond. College Station, Texas, December 5, 2009
Cypress tree in a pond of Central Park. College Station, Texas, December 5, 2009
Smartweed (Polygonum) near a pond in Central Park. College Station, Texas, July 30, 2014
Christmas lights reflected in a lake in Central Park. College Station, Texas, December 17, 2008
Cypress in a pond of Central Park. College Station, Texas, November 13, 2011
Christmas lights reflected in a pond of Central Park. College Station, Texas, December 17, 2008
Lake with a cypress and Christmas show in Central Park. College Station, Texas, December 17, 2008
Pleated inkcap mushroom (Parasola plicatilis, Coprinus plicatilis) on a lawn in Central Park. College Station, Texas, July 19, 2013
Christmas show "Santa s Lane" in Central Park. College Station, Texas, December 17, 2008
Floating primrose-willow (Ludwigia peploides) near a pond in Central Park. College Station, Texas, July 8, 2014
Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) near a pond in Central Park. College Station, Texas, July 8, 2014
Shoot of Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) in Central Park. College Station, Texas, July 30, 2014
Showy evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa) in Central Park. College Station, Texas, August 4, 2014
Close up of small pleated inkcap mushroom (Parasola plicatilis, Coprinus plicatilis) in Central Park. College Station, Texas, August 4, 2014
Christmas light tunnel decoration "Santa s Lane" in Central Park at rain. College Station, Texas, December 29, 2009
Bald cypress in a pond of Central Park. College Station, Texas, November 13, 2011
Back lit soft golden aster (Bradburia pilosa, Chrysopis) in Central Park. College Station, Texas, July 8, 2014
Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) near a pond in Central Park. College Station, Texas, July 30, 2014
Steamboat Christmas light decoration in Central Park. College Station, Texas, December 17, 2008
Cypress trees and a pond in Central Park. College Station, Texas, November 20, 2010
Fall colors of cypress trees in Central Park. College Station, Texas, November 20, 2010
Christmas lights in Central Park. College Station, Texas, November 27, 2010
Christmas light decoration "Santa s Lane" in Central Park. College Station, Texas, December 29, 2009
Berries of Coma (gum bumelia, Gum Bully, Sideroxylon lanuginosum) in Central Park. College Station, Texas, August 23, 2012
Geese in a pond of Central Park. College Station, Texas, November 20, 2010
Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxerpides) near a pond in Central Park. College Station, Texas, June 15, 2012
Flower of Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxerpides) near a pond in Central Park. College Station, Texas, June 15, 2012
Copper lily (Habranthus texanus) on a lawn in Central Park. College Station, Texas, July 19, 2013
Cap of small pleated inkcap mushroom (Parasola plicatilis, Coprinus plicatilis) in Central Park. College Station, Texas, August 4, 2014
Steamboat Christmas light decoration on a pond in Central Park. College Station, Texas, December 29, 2009
Black oval berries of Coma (gum bumelia, Gum Bully, Sideroxylon lanuginosum) in Central Park. College Station, Texas, August 23, 2012
Dry vegetation in Central Park. College Station, Texas, September 14, 2011
Brown vegetation in Central Park. College Station, Texas, September 14, 2011
Bald cypress in a pond in Central Park. College Station, Texas, December 12, 2013
Aphids on a leaf of milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) in Central Park. College Station, Texas, July 8, 2014
Spider eating a grasshopper in Central Park. College Station, Texas, July 8, 2014
Soft golden aster (Bradburia pilosa, Chrysopis) in Central Park. College Station, Texas, July 8, 2014
Slender orange bush lichen (Teloschistes exilis) on a twig in Central Park. College Station, Texas, July 8, 2014
Yellow flower of floating primrose-willow (Ludwigia peploides) near a pond in Central Park. College Station, Texas, July 8, 2014
Flowers of Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) near a pond in Central Park. College Station, Texas, July 30, 2014
Rattlebush (Sesbania drummondii) in Central Park. College Station, Texas, August 4, 2014
Small pleated inkcap mushroom (Parasola plicatilis, Coprinus plicatilis) in Central Park. College Station, Texas, August 4, 2014
Central area of spurge Euphorbia prostrata(?) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, June 17, 2022
Central area of rosette of basal leaves of bull thistle (Cirsium horridulum) when exposed to regular daylight as well as when illuminated by a 365 nm ultraviolet (UV-A) blacklight on a sewage line right of way in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 15, 2024
a young, actively growing shoot of eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) emerging from the shadows of a thicket. The image is dramatically lit, isolating the central stem and fresh leaves against a nearly pitch-black background, which brings the complex textures and colors of the plant into sharp relief. The lighting emphasizes the plant s characteristic "leaves of three" structure, making the distinct anatomy of the new spring growth unmistakably clear. Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, March 23, 2026
Malaise trap, a specialized piece of entomological equipment designed to passively collect flying insects. Invented in the 1930s by Swedish entomologist Rene Malaise and later refined by American entomologist Henry Townes, it is primarily utilized by researchers to conduct biodiversity surveys. Scientists frequently set these traps up in natural environments like Lick Creek Park and leave them for days or weeks to continuously sample the local insect fauna, particularly flies, wasps, and bees. The trap functions as a flight interceptor by taking advantage of the natural instincts of insects. It is constructed from fine mesh netting and shaped much like a tent, featuring a central barrier wall and a sloped roof. When an insect flies into the central mesh wall, its instinctive reaction is not to drop to the ground, but rather to fly or crawl upward toward the light to bypass the obstacle. To encourage this behavior, modern designs often use dark-colored mesh for the lower walls so the insects do not see them as an exit, and white mesh for the roof to naturally draw the insects toward the top. As the insects move upward, the sloped ceiling funnels them toward the highest peak of the trap. At this apex, a small opening leads directly into a collection apparatus, which is the white plastic jar visible at the top of the structure in your photo. This container typically holds a liquid preservative, such as ethanol, which safely captures and preserves the specimens until researchers return to collect the samples for laboratory identification. Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, March 25, 2026
