Citibank branch now BB&T - Corner location on Westheimer at S Dairy Ashford

 

 One of many branch location acquired by BB&T Bank from Citibank 

BB&T 12591 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077

BB&T Logo 

Dairy Ashford at Westheimer - BB&T Bank branch
in SE corner (no longer Citibank) 

Below: Archival photos of citibank branch at this location (2011 photo) 

Icebox - Taqueria Toda Madre - Texaco 12968 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077

ICE BOX and TAQUERIA TODA MADRE at TEXACO Gas Station
(previously a STRIPES store at this convenience store location)  

Texaco Houston 

12968 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077 Texaco Houston

BELOW: ARCHIVAL PHOTO OF TEXACO GAS STATION
 WITH STRIPES-BRANDED CONVENIENCE STORE

12968 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077 (2011 photo of gas station)

Elite AutoHaus 12970 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077

Elite AutoHaus 12970 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77077 

Unique Sensations Hair & Beauty Supply

12970 Westheimer Road #170 Houston, TX 77077 

Office Park coming next to Car Wash at 12836 Westheimer Rd. (2015-07-26 pics of development site)

Heavy backhoe deployed for site preparation 

Greenberg & Company (sign posted on construction site) 

 Office Park construction site
12836 Westheimer Rd Houston TX 77077 

Adjoining to the East: Colonial Car Wash 

Balfour Beatty Office Tower Construction in the Energy Corridor

Trammel Crow Company's Office Tower Development Project in the Energy Corridor (Energy Center IV)

Energy Center IV under construction (7/7/2015 photo)

Trammel Crow Company Flag on project site 

Energy Center IV site (7/7/2015) with Trammel Crow Co. Banner 

Hyde Park at Enclave

This apartment property on the corner of Briar Forest and Enclave Parkway has been re-branded a couple of times in past few years, which is not unusual in this segment of the real estate/rental market. Interestingly, the name designation "HYDE PARK" already has been in existence inside the Loop for more than a century, however, -- in the Montrose area. Will it cause confusion?

Hyde Park At Enclave (new signage) 

12951 Briar Forest Dr, Houston, TX 77077

THE OTHER HYDE PARK: 

Historic  "Hyde Park" neighborhood in Montrose

Alligator warning signs in George Bush Park more visible than the critters themselves - For an American Alligator photo safari, head farther South to Brazos Bend State Park

Can you find the alligator in the pic below? 

Click on photo to enlarge the view. 

The truth is that the alligator warning signs are more abundant, or at least visible at all times in George Bush Park, while the alligators themselves are not. That said, there is a reason for the warning signs. Alligators have been spotted there, but they are not exactly all over the place. The large birds and the deer are much more plentiful.

A better location to observe alligators in their natural habitat is Brazos Bend State Park. But as reported by the Houston Chronicle in its weekend edition, that park is currently closed due to flooding, which appears to have caused some damages. But it will only be a matter of time until things are back to normal conditions. There are far in excess of a hundred alligators resident there all year round, and the wildlife enthusiast is virtually assured to get to see at least a few of them one a single visit, even on the least demanding trails. Sometimes they even block the trail.

Unlike the warning signs in George Bush Park, those posted at Brazos Bend State Park also give instructions on "alligator etiquette", i.e. doos-and-donts of staying safe around alligators. --> Alligator safety 

Some of the trails are also great for biking, and overnight camping is an option also. Fishing is allowed, but no swimming. For obvious reasons! Pets to be kept on a short leash. Alligators may deem them prey. Don't fight alligators for your catch when you fish (there are piers and platforms), and don't ever feed them, lest they take a liking to you and fellow humans.

Birding is also great the Brazos Bend. The birds are much more abundant than they are in George Bush Park, and the make-up of the avian population (in terms of species and their numerical share) varies around the year, reflecting seasonal migration patterns. 

Brazos Bend State Park can be reached from the Energy Corridor area by heading down Highway 6 to U.S. 59, now also known as Interstate 69, and then exit at the sign for George Ranch and Brazos Bend State Park. The Grand Parkway is another option: 

Park address: 21901 FM 762 Rd, Needville, TX 77461

According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department's website (status of parks page), the park will re-open July 8, 2015, but some trail/areas will probably remain closed. 

Alligator floating in the water in one of the lakes at Brazos Bend State Park 

 AMERICAN ALLIGATORS IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT 

AT BRAZOS BEND STATE PARK

Rabbits are plentiful in the green grass alongside Terry Hershey Trail in June

Most common mammal (besides humans)
to be seen alongside the trail

Pretty in Pink - Clusters of flowers on tips of branches of trail-side shrub 

Terry Hershey Trail at Dairy Ashford Bridge over Buffalo Bayou 

Cyclist on trail segment East of Eldridge Parkway 

Dam spiders ... hairy, huge, and scary

When I first saw one of these huge hairy spiders in Barker Reservoir a couple or so years ago, I thought it might have been set loose by someone who no longer cared to have a tarantula as an exotic "pet". These hairy critters are about 3-4 inches long (leg-span-wise) and are now all over the dam. Highly visible on the crushed rock, but they move around the grass too and dangle from stalks, as seen in pic above.

They are probably on the Dam because the reservoir got flooded and they went looking for higher ground. Another theory is that it's mating season and these are mature males out and about looking for a willing female (who will then eat him after the intimate encounter. -- Or so the story goes.).

If this is an invasive species, it sure has adapted very well, and is breeding and multiplying. There were at least five specimen, all out on the gravel road on top of Barker Dam near the Briar Forest (Noble Road) ramp. Noble Road trail is still under water, though the flooding is now receding with record-high release of held-back storm water into Buffalo Bayou at the flood gate for past few days.

It would be good to know if they are venomous. Various internet article say that a tarantula bite is not too bad unless you are allergic to them. There are plenty of people who keep them as low-maintenance pets. And they live long lives. At least the females. I'd rather not have them crawl on my hand. I'd rather observe them in the wild and not have them around the house.

Barker Dam South of Briar Forest / Noble Road 

Sunset at Barker Reservoir June 9, 2015