Local Images of the Lower Rio Grande Valley

It has been lovely to be in a state that puts up signs "Welcome Winter Texans." We feel very welcome and know it is a genuine kindness on the part of the citizens of this proud state.  We realize that there is a financial motive that is part of the greeting, but we can say that it has been genuinely extended to us everywhere we have been. We love the diversity of the people, the culture, the language, and the food! Of course, the birds and the plants reflect the diversity as well.

After our arrival at the campground, they asked us if we wanted a new site they were thinking of creating. In a few weeks, our site progressed.

Scrapping off the grass...

Outlining the site and adding gravel...

Finally, the rocks are laid down and the site settles into our home for winter.

We are very comfortable in site F1 in Twin Palms RV Park, Rio Hondo, TX. 

About a half mile from the campground, we have the "Rio Hondo Mall" , a Valero gas station, a regular convenience store and a fast food Taco concession. Across the street, is the Rio Hondo Hardware where we can buy our propane for the van when we need it.

And about 1/2 mile the other direction is the place where we get our drinking water ...the Watermill.  A gallon for a quarter.

 

                                  

A block down from the Watermill is Mikes Grocery store. This was a sign on the door, and colourfully displayed above the fruit and vegetables are the weekly special...Pinatas!

The town is surrounded by wind farms...

And fields that produce crops like sugar cane, cabbage, citrus, and the special onion called the 1015

Sweet Onion. This onion only grows in the Rio Grande Valley.

Sugar Cane

Cabbage

An onion field

This concrete silo is evident on each field and is part of the irrigation system.

Many special plants are also common here, like the Prickly Pear...

Prickly Pear

Round fruit of the cactus called a Tuna

One name for this is Rope Cactus

Bougainville 

Sable Palms

Century Plants (tequila is made from this plant)

Yucca plant flower ( also called Spanish Dagger or Bayonet)

                                      

Texas Lantana

And some of the special creatures and signs...

Javelinas or Collared Peccaries 

Water snakes entwined

Sign that,protects the very endangered Ocelot population at Laguna Atascosa NWR.

Turtles sunbathing at Estero Llana Grande SP

Of course, we are also a part of the border area of Texas with Mexico. Here is part of the wall that we have seen at various locations.

Happily, we also found this statue with a message that we resonated with and how we feel about imaginary lines that set people apart from each other.  Thank goodness the Native Americans didn't build a wall when the Europeans arrived in the 1600's, or sadly, the Mexicans didn't build a wall after the Battle of Palo Alto in the 1800's when they lost over 1/2 of their country to the USA. We were the illegals!  Oh well, enough of my politics.

 We are truly enjoying learning about Texas, and want to explore all the new opportunities we have been given by spending our winter here. Adios Amigos and Amigas!