Friday through Saturday, May 23-31, 2025—Butterflies, Dragonflies, Damselflies, and a Dance Recital

Posted on May 31, 2025 by dunngone

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.

Tuesday through Monday, October 1-15—The Hummingbirds Left and then Kay Left

Posted on October 15, 2024 by dunngone

Kay and I continued playing lots of golf and pickleball despite the above average temperatures and humidity. Family birthdays continued this first half of the month of October; Karyn celebrated on October 6 and Jenny celebrated on October 13. One more birthday remains and it’s in a few days. Cool weather finally arrived on Monday evening, October 14, and was a welcome change from the high 80s and low 90s experienced earlier in the month. Big events this last couple of weeks included a “girls’ trip to the casino”, the monthly meeting of “The Book Club”, the Hot Springs Village Big Band Concert, and did I mention that Kay left me.

I did photography 8 days so far this month. On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, a “rare-to-this-area” Long-tailed Skipper showed up again, having first been observed a few days ago on September 29. I have seen only two other Long-tailed Skippers in Arkansas, in 2018 and 2020, both time in the west Little Rock area.

And, on this same day a tiny Anole was detected among the marigolds. It couldn’t have been more that about 5 centimeters (approximately 2 inches) long’

Only one new species of butterfly was detected so far this month, a Red Admiral on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.

A White-lined Sphinx Moth appeared out of nowhere and hung around for several photos. This was another first time visitor.

Otherwise, the garden visitors were many of the same species observed the previous couple of weeks.

On Friday, October 4, 2024, Kay, Pam, and Sue ventured to Pine Bluff to play the slots at the Saracen Casino Resort; none of the “girls” reported a winning night! Meanwhile, a Sachem Skipper butterfly was photographed.

On Monday, October 7, 2024, an American Lady butterfly was seen nectaring on a Butterfly Bush.

On Tuesday, October 8, a couple of real beauties were photographed: a Monarch and a Painted Lady.

The Hot Springs Village Big Band played a concert at the Balboa Pavilion on Friday, October 11, 2024. They are quite good, as many played professionally or as music faculty in the working lives. A couple of vocalists accompanied them on several songs.

Saturday, October 12, 2024, three butterfly species were photographed in the garden. Their beauty made up for the lack of numbers.

And then on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, Kay traveled to Short Pump, Virginia, for a sister visit. There is so much catching up and laughter when they get together, particularly reminiscing about foregone days. However, I miss her and am anxious for her to return home. The butterflies took pity on me that afternoon, and provided opportunities for several photographs.

Saturday through Saturday, August 17-31, 2024—Same Old, Same Old

Posted on August 31, 2024 by dunngone

The title is absolutely wrong! According to the internet (the internet is never wrong), the phrase “same old same old” is an idiom that means something or someone’s behavior remains the same, especially when it’s boring or annoying. Our days are pretty much the same, but our lives are neither boring nor annoying.

Despite the heat and humidity, Kay and I kept busy with pickleball and golf, and of course she had tons of club meetings, etc. Kay is playing pickleball three or four times a week, and golf a couple times a week. And, she continues to improve at both sports.

With a fairly healthy body, I have really been into golf, playing four times a week, and most days playing pickleball before hand. I turned 75 this month, and am realizing the “old” body can not longer perform at that level—too bad.

On Saturdays and some Sundays, we traveled to Maumelle or Little Rock to watch the grandson play soccer. Life is such fun for us.

The butterfly garden is still attracting new species as well as several that keep hanging around. I spent about 30 minutes each day on August 17, 18, 23, 28, and 30 making photographs in and around the garden.

On Saturday, August 17, a Blue Dasher dragonfly posed, seemingly begging for a photograph.

And then on Sunday, August 18, our Maumelle family visited. This is one of our sweet, sweet granddaughters.

And out of nowhere, this miniature white horse showed up on one of the giant quartz rocks.

A Hoary Edge skipper also made an appearance.

A number of butterflies were photographed on Friday, August 23, including a Fiery Skipper, Common Buckeye, Pearl Crescent, and Orange Sulphur.

Not to be outdone, an Eastern Pondhawk and a Halloween Pennnant dragonfly presented themselves.

Wednesday, August 28, was a great day for butterflies. A Hackberry Emperor, Sachem Skipper, and Dun Skipper, Southern Brokendash, and Sleepy Orange were found nectaring in the garden.

And a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird showed its true colors nectaring near the deck.

On Friday, a Fragile Forktail damselfly (perhaps the one from a couple weeks ago?) posed for a photograph. (Note: these are only about an inch long)

Thursday through Friday, August 1-16, 2024—Bridge and Bugs

Posted on August 16, 2024 by dunngone

While golf and pickleball dominated our activities the first half of August, Kay has played bridge several times this month, and she regularly places among the top scorers. It’s an activity that we really miss but there just doesn’t seem to be time to play regularly.

The new butterfly garden is paying dividends way beyond expectations.

The absence of butterflies in late July was, I expect, the result of too much irrigation and moisture applied while were gone for the few days in late July. Letting it dry out a bit yielded a number of butterflies, many new to the garden. I photographed on August 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, and 15.

Saturday, August 2, yielded Clouded Skippers, a Pearl Crescent, a Fiery Skipper, and a Common Green Darner dragonfly.

A Pipevine Swallowtail, Common Buckeye, and Hoary Edge and Crossline skippers appeared on Sunday, August 3.

On August 8, a Northern Broken Dash, Fiery, and Crossline skippers were present, as well as a Blue Dasher, Slaty Skimmer, and Eastern Pondhawk dragonflies. Also, a Fragile Forktail damselfly revealed itself. And not to be outdone, a few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds exhibited their usual acrobatics.

A few new species and some “old” ones showed up on Saturday, August 9. These included Northern Brokendash, Northern Cloudywing, Dun, Silver-spotted, Sachem, and Southern Cloudywing skippers. And, of course, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird was not to be outdone.