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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