Spriderwort

All posts tagged Spriderwort

Happy Earth Day 2015! Springs Trails, Fungus, Butterflies and Wildflowers

Posted by Lee Hiller on April 22, 2015
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

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Happy Earth Day from Hot Springs National Park.  Last year Butterflies in the park were scarce.  This spring however they have returned to feed off the abundant Tree pollen coating the leaves.  Colorful Wildflowers are blossoming and Gilled Fungi are rising up from the Forest floor.  Vibrant greenery on each trail heralds a return of the Spring Rainforest.

Love to ALL!
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

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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

Chickadees Mockingbirds Wildflowers Bulldogs and a Wedding Couple

Posted by Lee Hiller on March 23, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

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Another beautiful day out with my beloved husband Rick exploring the lower reaches of Hot Springs Mountain. We enter the park as a pair of sweet Bulldogs come trotting past and exit to the sight of a wedding couple posing for photographs. Families are still enjoying the beauty of the park during Spring break.

Everywhere I look Spring colors are exploding across the Forest orange, pink, green and silver decorate the Trees. Wildflowers of white and purple create a tapestry on the green of the many lawns. Sweet song birds create a melody as we waltz through Nature’s landscape. Spring brings the delicate rebirth of of Forests and Meadows, wildlife is mating preparing new nests and burrows. It is a blessing to bear witness to the unfurling new life! Please stroll through my photographs and open your heart to the song of Spring.

Much Love Sweet Readers,
Lee

Butterflies and Playful Creatures in the Spring Forest

Posted by Lee Hiller on April 5, 2010
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Hot Springs National Park Promenade Pale Yellow Butterfly

The park is active this morning, squirrels are running and digging on the Tufa Terrace and Peak Trail. A Male Cardinal is looking out over the promenade and singing his morning song. As I head up to the Carriage Road I spot a wounded insect, this poor creature has a section of it’s protective shell chipped away.

The spring green along the Dead Chief Trail is accented with vibrant Red Bud Trees and Dogwood Blooms. When I reach the Short Cut Trail a Squirrel is peeking at me from the “V” in a Tree above me.  It vanishes then appears in the hole of an old dead Tree, undecided over the potential danger I might pose.

When I reach the Hot Springs Mountain Trail I am surprised how quiet the Park is at the top.  No birds are in close vicinity and I can only here their faint calls in the distance.  Along the Trail glorious Wildflowers are blanketing the edges, Spiderwort and Violets accent the new green.   As I stop to photograph a Spiderwort I hear a rustling near my boots, looking down I see a see Chipmunk pulling at a tender string of seeds.  It sits, eats and forages for other food, I am surprised when it walks up near my boots. A few minutes later the beautiful Chipmunk disappears into the leaves.

Each day I hike the Trails Spring is changing the forest.  New leaves gracefully wave in the breeze, White Dogwood and Red Bud Trees provide spectacular contrast.  The Hike along the Trail is peaceful and I feel the tranquility of the new Forest.

As I reach the west side of the Hot Springs Mountain Trail I am treated to the site of a Male Prairie Lizard.  It is the first one I have seen on the Hot Springs Mountain Trail.  Unlike his counterparts on the Goat Rock Trail the coloring on his belly is a greenish turquoise rather than a cobalt blue.

The Honeysuckle Trail is a new journey with Leaves sparkling above the Violets and Oxalis now appearing all along the path.  Squirrels are dashing back and forth across the Trail and is in one a full on sprint up the Path ahead of me.  When I reach the peak Trail another Squirrel jumps onto the path in front of me. It looks up and suddenly decides that up a Tree is a much better place to be located.  As I reach the bottom of the Trail I see a stalk of lovely Foxglove Beardtongue it is the perfect way to end my day in the park.

Don’t let a day go by without stepping outside and breathing in Nature.
Love to You All,
Lee

PS: My walk with my fiance’ Rick on the Promenade was a visual feast of Butterflies.  Pastel Yellow, Yellow with Black and Orange with Black Butterflies were everywhere.  Two sweet Northern Mockingbirds took turns imitating Rick whistling. It was a glorious evening out together.