Eastern Comma Butterfly

All posts tagged Eastern Comma Butterfly

In Autumn the Forest Among Colorful Leaves and Wings

Posted by Lee Hiller on October 31, 2011
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I feel a sense of sadness as I bid farewell to the gorgeous Asters and Goldenrod that have decorated the trail with their beauty these past few months.  Beautiful butterflies catch a lift on the gentle breeze rustling the leaves and soar rapidly above us.  Their delicate wings carry them across the sky to feed on the fading wildflowers.  I show my beloved husband one of my favorite Forest camouflage artists, an Eastern Comma Butterfly.  Wings folded it mimics a dried autumn leaf, as it’s wings open a burst of orange is displayed.

The trails are radiating gold with a canopy of confetti leaves in red yellow bronze and green.  Small colorful leaves shimmer in the sunlight as the light breezes free them from the branches to sprinkle downward upon to the trail.  Tree sculptures begin to reappear as their once abundant foliage spills softly to the ground.  I love the graceful ballet of twisting branches amid the vanishing canopy.  The beautiful Autumn Forest is changing quickly.

Love to ALL!
Lee

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Autumn begins to Paint the Forest with Colorful Leaves

Posted by Lee Hiller on October 6, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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The glorious autumn leaf change has begun in Hot Springs National Park. As I head into the park I spot a single red Tree among the greenery on the south side of North Mountain.  On my way up the Promenade to hike up Hot Springs Mountain I see a small creature darting back and forth. Running and hopping it dives in the ivy on my right side.  I follow the movement of the ivy leaves and am delighted to see a Chipmunk pop up, she stands and looks around before diving back into the leaves.  Moments later she is up again peeking at me from behind a leafy branch.  Back under and on the move the busy Chipmunk hops up onto a Y shaped branch to look over the terrain.  Soon she is again back under moving with lightening speed toward me, back up she stands upright showing off her full cheeks.  She is the first Chipmunk I have spotted in the past two weeks.

Further up the Promenade glorious red leaves are moving gracefully against the perfect blue sky on the morning bre eze.  On the Tufa Terrace a sweet Carolina Chickadee sings a song to the morning sun lighting the tips of the tallest Trees.  The Peak Trail is peaceful in the half light as the sun slowly crests Hot Springs Mountain as I hike to the top.  Goldenrod, Yellow False Foxglove and Asters dot the edges of the trail among the receding green ground cover. Along the Hot Spring Mountain Trail the gold and purple Wildflowers continue and there is a peaceful silence broken only by the occasional Squirrel racing through the dried leaves.

On the North Mountain a spectacular orange Eastern Comma Butterfly lands on the trail ahead of me.  They are often hard to spot as they look like a dried leaf when their wings are closed.  When I reach the bottom of the North Mountain lovely pale blue Ivy Leaf Morning Glory are growing along the Hot Springs Mountain Road.  Several Trees have changing leaves of bright yellow and reddish pink. Among the gold leaves a tiny Carolina Chickadee is inspecting a rounded cluster of berries.   Nearing home a wonderful Hackberry Emperor Butterfly lands on the trunk on a Magnolia Tree.

as always Thank You for hiking with me.
Love to You ALL!
Lee

Spring Hike Filled with Colorful Wildflowers and Insects

Posted by Lee Hiller on April 20, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 6 Comments

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There is a string of thunder storms heading for your area, what would you do??? a) prepare for the storm or b) head out for a hike before they arrive.  I head quickly into the park and up the Dead Chief and Short Cuts Trails to reach the top of Hot Springs Mountain.  I am surprised how green the Forest has become in the past few days.  The transformation is magical and I feel as if I am hiking on new trails.

The Hot Springs Mountain Trail edges are a colorful display.  Perched above the trail on long stalks are purple, fuchsia and pink Spiderwort.  Spectacular bouquets from Nature. Further up the trail a Black Swallowtail Butterfly sails over the last of the Spring beauty Wildflowers. The flash of aqua at the bottom of it’s wings is striking in contrast to black dominating the rest of the wings and body.

As the weather begins to change I decided to head directly down the Mountain.  As I am leaving the park I noticed a field of Wildflowers is alive with beautiful spring insects. Both yellow and black Swallowtail Butterflies are flitting frantically from bloom to bloom.  A Clearwing Hummingbird Moth is hovering within the stalks of fluted blossoms in competition with a Carpenter Bee. As I near the park gates an Eastern Comma Butterfly flashes its glorious orange wings against the bright green foliage.

Home safe I type this as the Thunder of Lightning is echoing through the Mountains of Hot Springs National Park.

Love to You ALL!
Lee

Spring Paints North Mountain with Wildflowers and Butterflies

Posted by Lee Hiller on April 18, 2011
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Morning Hike:
I had not hiked to the Goat Trail for many weeks, with spring bursting open throughout the Forest it was time to visit a favorite place in the park. A perfect start to my morning, I spot a sweet Squirrel eating breakfast on my way to the base of North Mountain. The sun cannot compare to the light in my Heart as I begin my morning hike.

As I reach the Floral Trail a male Robin stands as lookout for a female collecting nesting material. She does not stop until she has a beak full of building materials. They fly off to work on repairs after the recent storms that buffeted the park A light breeze causes the leaves to flicker creating a sparkling green glow. In the distance a warbler is singing to the morning light and it softy travels along the trail. It is a great day at the office. 🙂

The Goat Rock Trail is glowing with the golden buds of Potato Dandelions. As I near the overlook pink, fuchsia and purple Spiderwort are blooming on tall stalks in glorious bunches. Sunlight illuminates the colorful wildflower display below the newly green Trees. I stop to listen as a variety of bird songs combine into a glorious Mountain symphony. The wind lightly moves through the bright green spring Leaves carrying the beautiful fragrance of the many blooms along the Trail.

A Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly leads me further up the Trail, lands on a vine before vanishing into the Trees. The upper section of the goat Rock Trail is a peaceful hike. The silver of bare winter Trees and exposed Rocks has been replace by a radiant green. Spring growth creates a beautiful canopy above me, below the Earth and Rocks are vanishing in the undergrowth. An orange and yellow Butterfly feeds on the nectar of blooming Wild Hyacinth. A heavy breeze does not budge a Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly clinging to a leaf.

When I reach the Upper Dogwood Trail the once open spaces are giving way to rapid growth. The leaves make a lovely rustling sound as I hike along the trail. A flash of orange crosses the path, it is a spectacular Angelwing Butterfly. Highly adept at camouflage when its wings are closed they often go unnoticed in the dried autumn leaves that cover the Forest floor.

On the Lower Dogwood Trail I have to hop over a tiny park resident as I head down the Mountain. A shining metallic green Six Spotted Tiger Beetle is slowly crossing the path. As I reach the bottom on the Floral Trail a field of Wildflowers is alive with colorful Insects. Brown and yellow Dragonflies hover silently above the green as a Clearwing Hummingbird Moth seeks Nectar in the pale lavender blossoms. A brown and orange moth lands on a leaf spreading its wings to capture the warmth of the sun. A tiny green and yellow Moth moves in and out of the undergrowth below the Wildflowers.

Afternoon Hike:
A perfect day can only get better when experienced with someone you Love. My afternoon hike is with my beloved husband Rick and I cannot wait to show him the rapidly changing spring beauty in the park. We are greeted at the base of North Mountain by a spectacular Purple Spotted Butterfly. Wild Strawberries decorate the trail edges as we head up to the Upper Dogwood Trail. The red is a spectacular contrast to the bright green vegetation of Spring.

Our Journey down the Mountain is filled with a duet provided by a male and female Cardinal that are nestled in the Leaves above us. Long after we have passed them a wonderful breeze carries their song as we head toward Fountain Street.

Nearing home on the Fountain Street Lawn an energetic Blue-Merle Border Collie comes over to visit. After several kisses I am able to take several photographs of this lovely blue-eyed dog and its sweet Golden Retriever friend. It has been another wonderful afternoon hike with my wonderful husband.

Lets get out and Play
Much Love,
Lee

HSNP Goat Rock Trail Ea