We went to Texas last month on vacation. We wanted to go before it got hot, but it was the wrong season for butterflies. It was cold, and the day we set aside to go to the North American Butterfly Association Butterfly Park in Mission, it was raining. We did see some incredible birds, however; the green jay, northern cardinals, black-bellied whistling duck, and the roseate spoonbill. Also the great kiskadee, the chachalaca, black crowned night herons, and probabaly a few others that I don't remember now. Actually, sometimes it is the unexpected discovers that are more fun than seeing the sights that one has planned. We also saw alligators, turtles, racoons, and even an amardillo that ran into the brush. While in Corpus Christi, we visited the SW Texas Botanical Garden, which has a screenhouse with butterflies. That is where I got the pictures of the Mexican bluewing (which is actually purple) and the male monarch. You can tell it is a male because of the scent glands, which look like two black dots on the veins of the hind wings. Anyway, it was a lovely trip, with much wildlife, a few flowers, and tolerable weather.