April | 2026 | Dunngone's Photos and Blog

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.

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.

Another of my favorites was the 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).