Japanese Honeysuckle

All posts tagged Japanese Honeysuckle

May 2011 Hiking Highlights with My Husband Rick

Posted by Lee Hiller on June 3, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

May has been a busy month of hiking, designing and writing.  My beloved husband Rick also began hiking after a year marked by several health set backs. I am so proud of him and the courage he has shown in beginning a regular exercise routine, especially as we are heading into the humid months of summer.  You are a true survivor my wonderful husband!

Often I have extra photographs from our joint excursions into the Mountains and little time to write a complete blog each time.  I have decided to create a monthly blog featuring photographs from our joint hikes.  There have been wonderful sightings of lovely Squirrels, a shy Turtle, tiny Chipmunk, curious male Cardinal, a flock of Canada Geese and a bold Coopers Hawk.  We are blessed to have close (across the street) access to the beautiful spring trails of vibrant green decorated with spectacular Wildflowers and Fungi within Hot Springs National Park.

Much Love to Everyone!
Lee

A Lovely Spring Hike Across West and Music Mountains

Posted by Lee Hiller on May 6, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

A perfect start to my morning hike, a mother House Sparrow and her babies are having flight school. Mom lands, babies arrive and she flies off to a different branch. It is one of my favorite parts of spring. The trail is wrapped in the new green brought forth from the storms of the past few weeks. Further along the Canyon trail a lovely Black-Whiskered Vireo makes a quick visit on a limb above me. Do birds know when they are out of their habitat boundaries as defined by humans?

My hike along the Oak Trail begins with a small obstacle course. Two Trees have succumbed to the recent storms and fallen blocking the path ahead on me. Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind climbing over the Trees, but I have to take great care as I am carrying two cameras. If NPS is reading removing them would be a good safety activity.

Male Cardinals seem busy in the park today, they are present on my hike on both the Oak and West Mountain Trails. Their glorious red coloring against the new spring greenery is a wonderful sight. I am beginning to appreciate how much easier it was to spot the smaller birds in the bare winter Trees. I am thankful Nature gives some of them contrasting plumage that allows me to see them in the lush foliage.

At the top of West Mountain the warmth of the sun mixes with a cool breeze creating a perfect spring morning. I tip my face to the sun for a moment of peaceful meditation. Slowly I open my eyes and turn toward a patch of greenery covered in Yellow and White Flowers. What I first thought to be a Butterfly hovering above the Japanese Honeysuckle is in fact a Hummingbird. Its metallic body glistens briefly before it rapidly vanishes into the Forest.

The Sunset Trail is draped in its spring finery and I almost miss seeing the rest hut ruins slowly vanishing into the Forest. As reach the top of the first rise I hear a familiar song. As I scan the Trees following the melody I am unable to spot the crooner. Sun flashes on a wing, suddenly a Black and White Warbler appears on the protruding perch of a dead Tree. It sits in full view loudly proclaiming it’s greeting to the morning sun.

When I reach Music Mountain I decide it is time to see where the Trail that slits to the right leads. In the past I have traveled left which leads up to the towers, there I would watch the Black and Turkey Vultures flying. Today I am hiking down then back up and them back down into the mixed Forest which is accented with Rock formations and Wildflowers. I stop briefly to pay my respects to a Red Spotted Purple Butterfly which has folded it’s wing and passed away among the leaves on the trail. When I reach the Trail head I realize several hours have passed and it is time I returned home to my Beloved Loving Caring Patient Husband Rick.

It has been a glorious day hiking the trails in Hot Springs National Park.

I Love to play in Nature!
Love to ALL,
Lee

A Beautiful Morning in the Spring Forest

Posted by Lee Hiller on May 5, 2010
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Hot Springs National Park, AR Floral Trail Red Fungus

I head to the Floral Trail this morning and as I enter the park a Chipmunk is sitting in front of me.   I keep walking forward and when I reach the sweet Chipmunk it sits eating it’s newly found seed occasionally looking up at me. It dives in a hole grabbing another seed, pops back out and continues looking at me but not running away.  I enter the park with a smile on my face, I Love Chipmunks… I Love Nature!

The Floral Trail is peaceful and I can almost see the vines growing and the leaves unfurling.  Nestled in the Soil and Moss is a tiny little red and white Fungus.  It is the first of this color I have seen in the Forest, I don’t want it to be the last.  I head up to the Lower Dogwood Trail and a black Butterfly lands on the trail ahead of me.  It sits pumping it’s wings flashing the bright color detail on the underside.

The backside of the Lower Dogwood Trail is green tranquility, each step forward a divine awakening.  All around me tiny creatures are foraging and above birds are singing. The solitude is bliss, I stop for a moment, close my eyes and breathe in the the beauty.

I scan the lower branches for green Tree snakes and lizards.  They are a lovely bright green like the new leaves, I have many months to search before they leave the Forest again. I see a beautiful Orange autumn leaf shaped Butterfly on the side of a Tree.  It looks spectacular with the bright sunlight shining on it’s wings.

From the Lower Dogwood I connect with the Upper Dogwood then on to the Hot Springs Mountain trail. From there I take the Hot Springs Mountain Road and I can see delicate and seemingly invasive Japanese Honeysuckle winding it’s way along the edges of the Forest.  At the Park’s main entrance the Magnolia Trees are preparing to burst forth with fragrant blooms that will stretch the entire length of the Historic District.

Thank you for joining me for my hike in the Mountains, I always enjoy your cpmpany.

Love to You ALL!,
Lee