Hot weather, especially heat index temperatures, soared during this reporting period. Despite the oppressive heat, Kay continues playing pickleball and golf, while I remain on the “injured reserve” list. There were a couple of times where I could play pickleball and one 9-hole round of golf before suffering another injury—a rib fracture, #7 on the left side—caused by losing my balance making a short turn on the e-bike. This one is going to take 8-12 weeks to heal.
The highlights of the two weeks were a visit by Karyn, Matt, Ridge and Aker for a weekend, and a follow-up “working” visit by Ridge the last week of the month.
He really helped us out digging up an irrigation fitting, trimming a bunch of shrubs, assisting with repairing a loose door hinge, and power washing the deck and the front sidewalk. Regrettably because of the injury, I was not able to assist him much, but we did build him a soccer rebounder.
I did manage to get out a few times to chase butterflies and dragonflies. On Tuesday, June 16, a female Diana Fritillary and an American Lady were photographed.
Additionally, a Variable Dance was present.
However, the star of the day was a nectaring Clearwing Moth, aka Hummingbird Moth.
A few butterflies were flittering about on Saturday, June 20, including a Fiery Skipper, a Southern Cloudywing, and a Red-spotted Purple.
An Eastern Pondhawk was also seen.
And perhaps most interesting was this unusual insect.
On Sunday, June 21, the grandkids were chasing crawfish and frogs in the ditch adjacent to the house,
while I photographed a Horace’s Duskywing, a Byssus Skipper (a first time species visitor to the pollinator garden), and a Silver-spotted Skipper.
And lastly, on Sunday, June 28, a Checkerspot, Fiery Skipper,, a Pearl Crescent, and a Realkirt’s Blue were photographed.
This Blue Dasher was all eyes while being photographed.
Kay began the month packing for a gambling junket to Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi. For a minimal amount, Beau Rivage flies “gamblers” from Arkansas to Biloxi, and then comps them a room for three nights. She and BFF Pam traveled there together. They left on Tuesday, June 2, and returned on Friday, June 5. Upon her return, she spent Saturday unpacking and doing her laundry. On Sunday, granddaughter came to visit for a few days. We were so delighted to host her, and she is growing up way too fast. She and Kay shopped, spent time at the Mid-America Museum, and rewatched her play at the beach and in Balboa Lake. On Friday, Kay’s longtime childhood friend, Sue, came to spend the weekend and on Saturday they attended their 61st high school reunion in Morrilton. Sue left on Sunday, and then on Monday, Kay flew to Richmond, Virginia, to spend a few days visiting her sister and brother-in-law. There were some snafus in her travel plans and Delta cancelled her flight from Atlanta to Richmond at the last minute. Fortunately, she was able to find another flight (for almost double the fare), arriving in Richmond late afternoon on Monday, June 15.
Meanwhile, still down and out with a pulled groin muscle, I hung around the house and enjoyed some yard work, and shop time. This is a photo of a prototype patio table I designed and built while Kay was away.
Of course, time was made almost daily for photographing butterflies and dragonflies in the pollinator garden, shooting photos 9 of the 15 days of this period.
The number of species of butterflies is really down this year. Generally, American Lady butterflies and Fiery Skippers can be observed every day, though the number of butterflies is small. However, the Diana Fritillary species is spending time nectaring daily which is a real thrill. And, a few dragonflies dart about in search of their next prey.
On Tuesday, June 2, an American Lady, a female Diana Fritillary, and a Juvenal’s Duskywing were seen; only the American Lady and Diana Fritillary were photographed. Additionally, a Common Green Darner dragonfly was photographed.
And then on Wednesday, both a Slaty Skimmer and a Calico Pennant (dragonflies) were photographed, as were a Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly and a Fiery Skipper. Juvenal’s Duskywing butterflies were again observed.
Another Slaty Skimmer (different color) and then a Black-shouldered Spinyleg were photographed on Friday, June 5. Additionally, a Common Buckeye and both female and male Diana Fritillaries were photographed.
In the butterfly world, male and female Diana Fritillaries were again observed on Monday, June 8, nectaring mainly on the butterfly bush blooms. A Widow Skimmer and an Eastern Amberwing (dragonflies) and an Orange Bluet damselfly were photographed and the photos are posted below.
In addition to the regular butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies, a Leaf-footed Bug, and Clearwing Moth were observed and both were photographed (see below). The Clearwing Moth is also known as a Strawberry Clearwing Moth and a Hummingbird moth.
On Tuesday, June 10, three different species of butterflies were observed and photographed: a Dun Skipper, an Easter Tailed-blue, and a Red-banded Hairstreak.The Clearwing Moth was also nectaring.
The usual butterflies and dragonflies were again present on Saturday, June 13. Only a Pearl Crescent butterfly photo is posted here.
The last couple of weeks before summer solstice were busy ones for Kay, while I really enjoyed some lazy days at home without adult supervision.
This special edition concerns the Diana Fritillary. The Diana Fritillary (Argynnis diana or Speyeria diana) is Arkansas’ state butterfly. The exclusive larval host plant for the Diana Fritillary is various species of violets, particularly woodland and forest-dwelling violets. (I didn’t know this; but will have a greater appreciation for violets in the future.) Female butterflies lay their eggs in the leaf litter near violets in late summer. (Don’t rake your leaves, please.) The caterpillars hatch, overwinter, and then feed on the fresh violet leaves and flowers in the spring. Thus, to support a breeding population, a moist, rich forest margin with an abundance of violets is required.
It is considered rare, uncommon, and a species of conservation concern. While it was historically common across much of the central and eastern United States, it has experienced a severe decline in population and range since the 1900s. From Google AI:
Current Conservation Status
Global Ranking: NatureServe ranks the butterfly as G2G3 (Imperiled to Vulnerable).
Xerces Red List: Listed as Vulnerable, meaning it faces a moderate to high risk of extinction.
Habitat Projections: Recent studies warn that its available habitat could decline by up to 90% by the year 2050 due to climate change and human impact.
The Diana Fritillary is no longer found across its entire historical range. Instead, it survives only in isolated pockets within two main regions:
Southern Appalachians: Stretching from central Virginia and West Virginia down through the mountains of northern Georgia and Alabama.
Interior Highlands: Located in the Ozark and Ouachita mountains of Arkansas, Missouri, and eastern Oklahoma.
My first observation of a Diana Fritillary was of a male at Middle Fork Barrens on June 1, 2015, shortly after moving to Hot Springs Village (photos via i_hone 5 were unsatisfactory to publish). For the next few years, the Diana Fritillary photo fix was achieved by a visit to the natural area. For the next few years, it seemed like a single male would fly through the backyard each year during the season. The first photographed was a male, observed on June 5, 2018.
MALE Diana Fritillary observed on June 5, 2018.
However, the Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area, just a few minutes from Hot Springs Village, provided many opportunities to view both the males and females nectaring on Bee Balm blooms.
FEMALE Diana FritillaryMALE Diana Fritillary nectaring on Bee Balm
And then, the pollinator garden begun in late spring 2024 drew a bit longer stop for the single male Diana Fritillary. However, it was the only one.
Kay began planting in the pollinator garden
Things improved, though. On May 30, 2025, a single male appeared in the pollinator garden.
And then a week later, on June 6, 2025, a single female appeared.
Subsequently, through August, a few more would show up, one at a time.
This season, 2026, has been quite productive in terms of observing Diana Fritillaries. The first male was seen on May 26, followed by a female on May 29.
On June 5, 2026, three female Diana Fritillaries and one male were observed in the garden at the same time; the females rejected any and all advances from the males, but we hope to have some eggs soon!
Kay continues being busy in retirement, playing pickleball and golf several times a week, and now playing bridge several times a month. Church and philanthropic organizations also keep her busy.
We hosted the monthly Hand and Foot night on Wednesday, May 20, and wouldn’t you know it, Bev Graham and I came in last place, while Kay and her partner won $2 for 3rd place. We also attend the weekly Taco Tuesday when schedules allow, joining our “Palm Creek” friends at the Granada Grill, a Mexican restaurant just a couple minutes from the house (thanks Donald Baggett for taking care of the details).
Family highlights of this reporting period were a day visit by Karyn, Ridge, and Aker (beach time at Balboa and pickleball) and a dance recital in Memphis for Sutton and Harper (we did enjoy a short visit beforehand with Jenny, Linc, and Sutton).
Being unable to play pickleball and golf because of this freak groin strain/tear has provided time to piddle around the house, doing limited yard and garden work, and spending some time in the shop, mainly organizing—or reorganizing—and constantly blowing away dust and sawdust. I did build a prototype patio side table, using mostly scrap lumber, and it turned out better than expected.
The pollinator garden continues to attract pollinators, and we continue planting pollinating flowers.
Two years ago Kay and I embarked on a quest to build a pollinator garden (actually intend an evergreen bed) to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Thus, this is the third growing season for the garden. It has been a huge success as its first season attracted 44 species of butterflies. The season of 2025 yielded a cursory count of 27 species, though we were traveling most of June and half of July. Numbers for the 2026 season thus far (as of May 31, 2026) include 13 species.
Of course, there’s always time for photo shoots in the garden and lake side. On Saturday, May 16, only an American Lady butterfly and Calico Pennant dragonfly were photographed.
American LadyCalico Pennant
And then on Tuesday, May 19, I hit the photo jackpot with a visit to nearby Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area. A number of beautiful wildflower blooms were photographed.
Also, a few butterflies were flitting about, including male Diana Fritillaries, a target species for the visit.
And a solitary dragonfly landed long enough to be photographed.
On Wednesday, May 20, a Great Spangled Fritillary and Northern Brokendash honored us with their presence.
Not to be outdone, a Calico Pennant and Eastern Amberwing, respectively, landed for photographs.
On the following day, a Monarch caterpillar was spotted munching on a butterfly weed leaf—it was our first Monarch caterpillar. And then, a Gray Hairstreak and an adult Monarch showed up.
And then to end the month of photos, a Northern Cloudywing and a male Diana Fritillary were observed nectaring on Tuesday, May 26.
Kay continues her pursuit of pickleball and golf several times a week in addition to all the social/club activities in which she participates. On the other hand, and not to be a Debbie “downer”, I was overcome by an upper respiratory virus that continues to hang on, some several weeks later, in addition to sports injuries still ongoing,
We continue to add flowering plants to the various beds, and work sporadically to maintain the yard. Otherwise, nothing big or unusual happened this reporting period. Consequently, this blog entry will feature photographs from nine days of shooting, mostly in our backyard.
Photographs were made on May 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 15. New wildflowers are blooming, and first of season butterflies and dragonflies and damselflies are being observed. One of the highlights of this period’s photography was capturing the blooming of Indian Pink, on of my favorites, on May 1.
Indian Pink
Another was the appearance of an Orange Bluet damselfly on May 3. This one was a “lifer”, meaning it was the first one of the species I had ever seen.
Orange Bluet Damselfly
Next among the highlights was the annual arrival of Baltimore Orioles. The few that came by stayed almost a week. The photo below was made on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
Baltimore Oriole
Thus far this year, more snakes than usual have appeared in the lake adjacent to the back yard. All of these are water snakes.
Northern Water SnakeGreen Water Snake
Several beautiful wildflower blooms were photographed, mostly at Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area on May 1.
Another couple of weeks of beautiful weather occurred during this reporting period, including a couple of days of slow, penetrating rain. Otherwise, great temperatures and mostly blue skies surrounded the area. The much needed rain did wonders for our plants, and for the golf courses in Hot Springs Village. However, we are still in a serious drought with no significant relief in sight.
Kay continues playing pickleball and golf at least a few days each week, and I have only ventured out when persistent injuries heal enough to allow. Interestingly, while watching our grandson play basketball on Sunday, April 25, 2026, I reached out to catch a player diving the sidelines for a basketball, and pulled a groin muscle. Though it didn’t pop, a jolt of fire was felt. And then as the month drew to an end, an upper respiratory cold began; 7-10 days of feeling miserable. Consequently, my activities were limited to taking a few photographs as both pickleball and golf were not in the “picture”; sorry for the pun.
Around the property, only a Western Fence Lizard (aka Blue-bellied Lizard) was photographed.
Western Fence Lizard
The highlight of the period, however, was a brief trip to Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area, my first of the year. And was it worth it—butterflies, dragonflies, and wildflower blooms. My target wildflowers were the Fire Pink, the Blue Star, and the Shooting Star, and I was not disappointed.
Fire PinkFire PinkBlue StarShooting Star
Another of my favorites was the Carolina Larkspur.
Carolina Larkspur
There were many other wildflowers in bloom.(Remember you can click on the image, or click twice, to enlarge it for a much better view.)
Not to be overlooked, a few dragonflies landed long enough to be photographed.
Several butterflies were flitting about, mostly Little Wood-satyrs. Others seen were a Clouded Sulphur, Variegated Fritillary, Red-banded Hairstreak, and Common Buckeye.
Beautiful weather has surrounded us this spring with the exception of it being extremely dry. Of course, that means golf courses are very playable—no cart path only days—and flowers, butterflies, and dragonflies/damselflies are emerging.
As usual Kay stays plenty busy with social activities, pickleball, and golf, and this reporting period saw another meeting of The Book Club.
She is particularly active in PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization) which is a philanthropic organization where women motivate, educate and celebrate women, and Naomi Circle. Naomi Circle is a small group of women who meet on the first Wednesday of each month with a break during the summer months. Their meeting is held at various members homes or at the church. During the meeting, a bible study is held using books or DVDs, drinks and snacks are provided, and other topics of conversation are discussed.
In addition she attends neighborhood women’s lunches and card parties. And then, she plays pickleball several times a week and golf on Wednesday mornings.
With tongue in cheek, Kay’s social activities relieve me of having to have very much contact with people which suits me to a “T”. I do play golf on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and sometimes on the weekend with Kay, and pickleball on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and sometimes on Sunday afternoon. Regrettably, it was during one of the pickleball games early in the month when I experiences sharp burning pain just above the arch on my left foot. One of the pickleball players is a fitness coach and immediately diagnosed the problem and steps for healing. Tendinitis can be caused by a sudden injury. But repeating the same movement over time is a much more likely cause. Most people develop tendinitis because their jobs or hobbies involve motions that they repeat, over and over. This puts stress on tendons.causing inflammation or irritation of tendons in the foot due to overuse, improper footwear, or injury, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. It may be that playing golf and pickleball some 14 days straight aided and abetted this injury. Anyway, I’m now out of sports and even exploring with the camera until this heals.
Over the first weekend of the reporting period, immediately after the injury, I supported grandson Ridge in his AAU basketball pursuits. We traveled to Batesville, Arkansas, on Saturday and Sunday for his team’s participation in a tournament. He played extremely well and his team blew out their competition in four games to win the championship. If you haven’t seen 14-year olds playing AAU basketball, you are missing a real treat. They are fast, and very, very good.
As for photography, I was confined to the back yard because of the “injury”. Nevertheless, a few animals and wildflowers provided much needed subject matter. Sunday, April 5, 2026, saw me hobbling around snapping photos of a chipmunk (a nemesis), a Black and White Mason Wasp, a Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly, and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird (our first of the year).
ChipmunkBlack and White Mason WaspSpicebush SwallowtailRuby-throated Hummingbird
And a Texas Toadflax was blooming as was a pot of Chives.
Texas Toadflax
A Blue Violet was photographed the following Wednesday.
Blue Violet
And some damselflies were seen laying eggs and an Ozark Clubtail was quietly resting, awaiting its next prey.
Damselflies (one on left is laying eggs)Headshot, Ozark Clubtail dragonfly
Another Texas Toadflax bloom was recorded on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Texas Toadflax
Several Spring Azures were flittering about on Tuesday, April 14, and a Blackberry bush was in full bloom.
This was a truly uneventful period for us as nothing extraordinary happened; it was all about golf, pickleball, and normal day-to-day activities. This period was warm and very dry. Having planted almost 75 butterfly and hummingbird attracting plants, we’ve had to water almost daily as the irrigation system has not yet been activated.
While looking at photo files for including in this post, it was discovered that I only photographed two days this period—perhaps too much wind or too many conflicts. Regardless, I need to shoot more! Here are the results of the two days’ of shooting.
A hike on Cedar Creek Trail in Hot Springs Village on March 24 resulted in the best day of photography this year.
During the hike, at about 2 o’clock PM, butterflies began “coming up” and a few actually were still enough for photos. This “fresh” Gemmed Satyr was the first to be spotted.
And then a male Falcate Orangetip fluttered by and landed a nearby Rue Anemone bloom.
An attractive Juvenal’s Duskywing was observed next.
And then, a Red-banded Hairstreak was settled just enough for one photograph.
Also, a Beautiful Stream Cruiser dragonfly perched for a picture.
And it was an exceptional day for wildflowers as well.
The year’s first (as least for me) Dwarf Crested Iris was blooming seemingly everywhere on the forest floor.
And an occasional Mayapple bloom could be seen.
A first-of-season Watercress was photographed as was a first-of-season Dog Violet.
Other blooms included Buttercups, Blackberries, Lousewort, Woodland Phlox, Spring Beauties, and Trout Lilies.
Spring BeautyTrout LilyBlackberryButtercupLousewortWoodland Phlox
On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, a photo safari was made to our backyard which yielded a nard-to-see Northern Watersnake.
Tiny Yellow Wood Sorrels were blooming in several clumps.
Blue Violets were also seen in one bed.
And, a beautiful bloom of Spring Beauties was photographed.
Not to be outdone, a few Dandelion “weeds” remained and made for a few decent photos.
Nothing special or unusual occurred this reporting period; just life as usual. After so much travel the last 25 years, we are thoroughly enjoying being at home and experiencing the near-like spring weather, though we did have a couple of days of below freezing temperatures. Our usual activities of golf, pickleball, and social engagements transpired as usual, and because the temperature in the garage shop was moderated, some woodworking and “piddling” took place as well. Also, we were able to attend track, soccer, and basketball games in and around central Arkansas.
Kay stays really busy, doing something or going someplace virtually all the time, and lately she’s been attending two rehearsals a week for the upcoming Easter cantata at church. And this month she hosted The Book Club, a big thing!
Wildflowers have begun blooming extensively, and a few butterflies are pausing long enough for a photo or two. On Tuesday, March 3, I hiked our local Cedar Creek Trail and was rewarded right off with a couple of butterflies: a Falcate Orangetip and a Mourning Cloak. The Falcate Orangetip was nectaring on Spring Beauty blooms.
And then, a growth of mushrooms caught my eye.
In addition to the Spring Beauties that were scattered along the trail, Rue Anemone and Buttercups were also present. It was a delightful walk for sure.
And then on Saturday, March 7, another foray along the trail produced similar results.
Two of my favorite wildflowers showcased their blooms on Tuesday, March 10. Both the Trout Lily and Mayapple proudly displayed their adornments.
In addition, the False Garlic betrayed its name with its beautiful bloom and buds.
A Wood Sorrel also exhibited its pastel blooms above clover-like leaves.
Switching to Beaver Dam Trail on Wednesday, Spring Beauties were in abundance and the occasional False Garlic and Buttercup were observed.
Some “new” blooms were also seen. First was the Wild Pansy.
And then, Woodland Phlox appeared.
A delicate Downy Yellow Violet showed up out of nowhere…
…as did an Earnest’s Spiderwort.
Finally, on Thursday—back on the Cedar Creek Trail—the previously observed wildflowers were photographed, with emphasis on really close-up macro shots.
Monday, February 16, 2026, was a “sea day”; thus, no ports of call.
After our early morning lattes, we climbed to the 15th floor to the three pickleball courts; they were packed so we just watched till mid-morning. Breakfast and lunch were at the 16th floor buffet and was what one would expect—just okay. Dinner was in the main dining room and was good. After dinner, we attended the first of several shows on the cruise, Voices, and it was entertaining.
The ship continued sailing southeast from Galveston on Tuesday. Continuing southeasterly between Cuba and Mexico, and then around the Cancun peninsula, the ship sailed towards the tiny Central American country of Guatemala. Up early, we enjoyed another latte before before actively beginning another sea day. And then it was off to the pickleball courts. Entertainment for the evening was Frankie and the Dreamers, a show paying tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, but mainly featuring songs from the Four Seasons. The lead singer had been a star on Broadway, but age was taking its toll. This was the third tribute show relative to Frank Valli and the Four Seasons, and it would rank third out of three. Our dinners in the main dining room were very good, with exceptional waiters.
After a short sail during the night, the ship docked Wednesday morning at Roatan, an island in the Caribbean, about 40 miles off the northern coast of Honduras. It was our third time to Roatan, so we didn’t bother getting off the ship. We hung out at the pickleball courts, and then lounged about and read the rest of the day.
The line waiting to play pickleball
The night’s entertainment was an ice skating show, 1887: A Journey in Time Ice Spectacular. We really enjoyed it. Afterwards, Kay tried her luck at the casino and I attended The Love and Marriage Game Show, a standard on most cruises. It was just okay.
After making a U-turn and sailing north, the Harmony of the Seas attempted to dock at Costa Maya on Thursday, but heavy seas created an unsafe situation. Consequently, it was another slow “sea day”. Reading and lazing about were our main activities for the day, though we did attend The Fine Line Aqua Show featuring high-flying feats, mind blowing stunts, and physically demanding acrobatics, including several high dives. It reminded us of a Cirque du Soleil show we saw in Las Vegas almost 25 years ago. The aqua show was definitely worth attending.
Continuing northeast during the night, the ship docked at Cozumel on Friday morning. Cozumel is premier Mexican Caribbean island famous for world-class scuba diving, snorkeling, and pristine beaches, particularly around the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Kay disembarked briefly to buy some Mexican vanilla for a friend. Otherwise, it was another quiet day on board. The evening’s entertainment was Columbus, The Musical. The show featured an outstanding set, but the singing was just okay, perhaps because the show was a bit “silly”.
Saturday was another sea day, with no ports of call. Running out of things to occupy our time, we hung out at the pickleball courts for a few minutes, and then read most of the rest of the day. Having exhausted the ship’s entertainment (that we wanted to see), we attended another ice skating show, iSkate Ice Spectacular, a show allowing the skaters to showcase their best moves to their preferred music—awesome skaters!
Sunday was disembarkation day, and it was without incident as we only handled our two suitcases ourselves. We were in the car at about 8:00 AM and headed north, arriving home about 4:00 PM. The cruise was good, not great.
Among our observations was that cruising has dramatically changed in recent years. Lots of children are cruising with their parents (homeschooling) as well as multi-generational families of 20 or more. Both the children and the multi-generational families totally overwhelm the dining facilities, shows, and recreation areas, including the pickleball courts. And, there were many preteen and teen children attending adult entertainment venues. This was likely our last cruise on Royal Caribbean, and we understand that Norwegian is similar. IF we cruise again, it will be on an adult only ship or one that favors adults.
Glad to be home, on Monday, February 23, 2026, we both played pickleball with our respective groups. Hot Springs Village is such a great place to live!
On Tuesday, I dug out the camera and managed photographs of an American Goldfinch at the house, and a Hair Bittercress “weed”.
American Goldfinch near our houseHairy Bittercress
And then, some Spring Beauty wildflowers along Cedar Creek Trail in Hot Springs Village were photographed.
Spring BeautySpring Beauty
More Spring Beauties were photographed on Thursday, February 26, 2026, along Cedar Creek Trail.
Spring BeautySpring BeautySpring Beauty
Kay’s half first cousin, once removed, visited and he and Kay enjoyed lunch and catching up of old times and family. He was so enjoyable with whom to visit, and Kay was definitely thrilled to spend time with him.
And then on Friday, I hiked the Beaver Dam Trail in the Village and photographed a Water Moccasin, and some Rue Anemone and Bloodroot wildflowers.
Water MoccasinRue AnemoneSpring BeautyBloodrootBloodroot
Collection of trails and greenway quotes, terms, acronyms, tools as well as trail publications and presentations and 100s of photos from my bicycle and hiking adventures. .
This journal was begun several years ago, and reflects an accurate record of each day fished. Please enjoy it, and remember that fish are too valuable to be caught just once, and the places they live are too valuable to be mistreated.
Dunngone's Photos and Blog 