Kay and I are in full swing with golf and pickleball; she plays golf a couple times a week and pickleball three or four times a week, and I play golf three times a week and pickleball four times a week. In as much as it doesn’t occupy all of our time, we’re usually too sore and tired to do much of anything else.

Our Memorial Day weekend consisted of pickleball on Friday and Saturday, followed by a visit of the Maumelle kids (Karyn, Ridge, and Aker) on Sunday. Of course the kids had to play pickleball and take a trip to the beach.

Tuesday evening was “Hand and Foot” night at the Starr’s as seven couples played after heavy hors d’oeuvres, Both our teams won a little bit of money.

Wednesday, May 28, was a busy day for the both of us. Kay played golf in the morning, while I photographed at home, Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area, home again, and then I played pickleball followed by having the car serviced in the late afternoon. The first photo session at home proved to be a good one as several “first of season” (FOS) butterflies visited the garden: Common Buckeye, Horace’s Duskywing, Little Glassywing, and Fiery Skipper.

Even dragonfly appeared long enough for a photograph

And then, my FOS Diana Fritillaries were observed at Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area.

Not many other species of butterflies were observed, but Common Buckeyes, Eastern Tailed-blues, Little Wood-Satyr, and Hoary Edge Skipper.

Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area is still producing nice wildflower blooms.

And then, back at the house, an Orange Sulphur was observed.

Also, an Eastern Amberwing dragonfly was seen near the lakeshore.

On Thursday, a few dragonfly and damselfly species were observed near the lakeshore at home: Common Green Darner Dragonfly, Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly and Slender Bluet Damselflies sharing a stick-up, a Variable Dancer Damselfly, and a Black-shouldered Spinyleg Dragonfly.

And the pollinator garden was quite active. Below are photographs of a Dun Skipper, Hoary Edge Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper, and Southern Brokendash Skipper.

And then on Friday, more FOS butterfly species showed up at the garden including first time visitors  Diana Fritillary and Hackberry Emperor.

Not to be outdone, a Tufted Titmouse took advantage of the bird bath for a good soaking. 

After pickleball Saturday morning, Kay and I drove to the Memphis area to attend Sutton and Harper’s dance recital. They were both beautiful and amazing, and growing up entirely too fast!

We returned home on Sunday, tired but playing a few holes of golf to end the month.