Tag Archives: garden

Saturday through Thursday, June 14-26, 2025—Welcome Summer 2025

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Rain, early in the reporting period—Saturday through Tuesday—pretty much kept us house bound upon our return from eastern Virginia. And the down time was needed. We found the gardens had prospered in our absence. A great boat ride Wednesday evening around Balboa Lake with the Andersons, and hosted by the Nobles, was a great respite from the heat that had entered our area. Thursday was another quite day spent mostly inside. Finally, we both were ready for pickleball on Friday, June 20, the first day of Summer 2025. The weather was a bit disruptive, with temperatures hovering in the low 90s and the humidity about the same, i.e. low 90s. I was soaking wet after playing a couple of hours. A quick walk around the pollinator garden revealed only three species of butterflies: Common Buckeye, Fiery Skipper, and Delaware Skipper. However, the Delaware Skipper was a first time visitor to the yard/garden, making it the 14th species observed this season (2025), and the 42nd species observed since I started recording last year.

Common Buckeye
Fiery Skipper
Delaware Skipper

Also, a couple of wildflower blooms were recorded.

Button Bush
Primrose Willow

Also, dragonflies were plentiful—a great way to start summer.

Saturday was basketball day with two games in Cabot. Regrettably, Ridge did not get to play much (9th grade team), but his team played well against significantly more height.

Apparently a heat dome has settled in for a good portion of the US, and we’re right on the edge with heat advisories almost every day. That means staying inside as much as possible—not something desirable for us folks that like being outside. We attended church Sunday morning for the first time in three weeks having been out of town. Our new pastor begins his term next week, but we’ll miss his first three services; are we off on another adventure?

Kay played pickleball twice on Monday while I lazed about the house, piddling with photo and computer gear. Truth be told, I just can’t get in the mood for any outside activities with this high heat and humidity (the humidity was 95% early Monday morning). And, of course, that just fuels bouts of depression! I did print a couple of photos after not having used the printer for some six months, and it performed just fine.

Monday through Wednesday, June 9-11, 2025–Visiting Family

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Kay and I drove east Monday some 300 miles to visit family in eastern Virginia, arriving about 1:30 pm. The first couple of hours were spent catching up, and then we sort of unpacked, visited some more, and “crashed and burned” for a decent night’s sleep.

We all ventured out Tuesday to see their community pickleball courts, hike a James River trail. And visit their Master Gardener’s pollinator garden. A few butterflies were observed, including a new lifer, a Cabbage White.

Cabbage White

Also, several damselflies were bouncing from place to place.

And then, even a few dragonflies were spotted.We all enjoyed a homemade shrimp and egg noodle alfredo dish for dinner, before watching a bit of television and retiring for the evening.

On our final day, Wednesday, we had coffee at a large church’s coffee shop, and visited their off-site thrift shop, where brother-in-law George volunteers.  Afterwards, we went shopping. One of the neat things about high population areas, such as the greater Richmond, VA, area, is the variety of shopping available, and many “big name” outdoor stores are available such as REI and Sierra Trading Post. None of us bought much, though I did buy a pair of cheap sunglasses for the trip back home. And then we stopped at a pollinator garden created and maintained by master gardeners; both Nan and George are master gardeners. And then, it was off to their public pickleball courts which were really nice, including the two individually covered courts. Both Kay and I found groups with which to play, and we had a good time.

We visited with Geoff and  in the afternoon, and again that evening. He is an outstanding young man (though maybe not so young anymore), and we enjoyed his recap of a recent work trip to India.

All in all our family visit with Nan and George was really good, perhaps the best we’ve experienced, and we thank them much for hosting us.

Monday through Saturday, March 16-22, 2025—Wow, Spring has Sprung

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Kay and I continue playing pickleball (her more than me) and golf when weather allows. Though our lives are not boring, there are no new adventures to report.

Good news; bad news. The good news is that wildflowers have begun blooming, but the bad news is that high winds have prevented most flower photography these first few days of spring. Nevertheless, with a high shutter speed, a few of the blooms have been photographed. Also, a few “new to us this season” birds have shown up at the feeders.

Grandson Ridge ran several races in a multi-school track meet on Monday, March 17, 2025. He placed first in all but one, and second in that one. Not only is he a great athlete, but he’s a great kid, too.

On the first day of Spring, Thursday, March 20, 2025, feeders in the back yard attracted enough birds to generate several photos. An American Goldfinch came in close enough for a portrait.

And then, a Purple Finch, the first I’ve photographed, landed in a nearby birch tree before coming in to feed. The immature female Finch didn’t hang around long though, and only came that one time.

More American Goldfinches visited the feeders, landing in the nearby birch tree. The tree seems to be a popular hangout for birds!

And finally, a Tufted Titmouse landed in the birch tree.

Wildflowers were the order of the day on Friday, March 21, 2025, despite heavy winds. The photographic quest for the day was a white Trout Lily spotted at Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area by good friend Dan. I walked the usual circuit twice trying to find one in bloom, but no luck because of cool temperatures. However, several other wildflower began blooming as the morning progressed towards noon. 

And most surprising—and best of all—a Black Swallowtail butterfly flitted by and landed in the grass about 10 yards away. I began photographing it, approaching nearer and nearer with each burst of shots. The butterfly photographs made the almost two-mile walk worth it.

From Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area, I drove to Cedar Creek Trail in search of the more numerous yellow Trout Lily. Several other wildflower species presented blooms as noon arrived.  

And finally, near the trail’s parking area, a few Trout Lilies began appearing, though sparsely, on the forest floor. 

Monday through Monday, September 16-30, 2024—Was It The Greatest Butterfly Day Ever

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There’s not much to report this two-week period; we continued with our usual activities and meetings. A couple of highlights, though, were dinner out and cards with the Nobles and our annual COVID and flu injections.

Dinner on Friday, September 20, 2024, was at Mulligan’s, and Kay, Celeste Noble, and I had catfish while Tom had pizza. Kay and I used to eat catfish there every Friday evening when Troy and Patty owned and operated it, but had not been overly impressed when new owners/operators took over. This particular Friday evening was good. I can’t remember the card game we played, but it was similar to Hand-and-Foot and Tom won ALL the games!

A couple of butterflies and a hummingbird were photographed Saturday, September 21, 2024.

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, Kay and I had our annual flu and COVID injections. And, as usual I began having a reaction to the COVID injection at 2 AM the following morning. The reaction is tolerable, but a nuisance—fever, achy joints, and a headache—lasting about 48 hours. It is yucky at best.

Sunday, September 29, 2024, was a great day for butterfly photography. In fact, it’s the best day we’ve ever had in our yard. The small butterfly garden was full of various species of butterflies flitting here and there, nectaring on the wide variety of flowering plants. Of special note, a Long-tailed Skipper briefly appeared before disappearing for the day; however, I did get a decent photo of it. It’s only the second Long-tailed Skipper I’ve seen in Arkansas.

Also a first in the garden was a Gulf Fritillary.

And then a huge Great Spangled Fritillary, a bit worse for wear, was seen nectaring on a nearby flower.

The first Monarch butterfly to grace the garden then flew in for a brief visit.

And finally, a tiny Red-banded Hairstreak was spotted on a flower; this was another first-time visitor to the garden.

Not to be outdone, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird seemingly begged to be photographed.