The lepidoptera-mania continues. Today’s catches include a clouded sulphur and an orange gulf fritillary.


Once a resort to regain one’s health and flee the ills of city life, Mount Nebo today is a state park that offers grand views of western Arkansas and is still a place to rise above one’s day to day troubles. Part of the geologic rippling that is the Ouachita system, Mount Nebo is sandstone “bench” that stands 1,850 feet tall.
Mount Nebo is also lends its name to an annual chicken fry in nearby Dardanelle. It’s an unwritten rule of Arkansas politics that anyone running for office must include the Mount Nebo chicken fry on his or her campaign itinerary. (The other mandatory stop is the Gillette Coon Supper.) Those familiar with Charles Portis’ novel “True Grit,” will recognize Dardanelle in Yell County as Mattie Ross’ home.
A beautiful day and a vacation day! Too nice to stay inside, so of course the camera and I took a walk. In addition to more butterflies (see the previous post with the red-spotted purple) the light was just right for a couple of non-insect shots.
A Canadian cold front gave us a drastic change in temperatures from Sunday’s record high of 88 to this morning’s freeze warning, complete with frost in the valley. The migrating monarchs haven’t reappeared since the mercury went south, but was no deterrent to the red-spotted purple that was flitting around the trees this morning.
After weeks of trying to catch a monarch in pixels, finally, finally they made it to the mountain. Maybe it was a strong headwind out of the south that prompted them to take a breather, but today the monarchs made use of the goldenrods for rest and nectar.
This fall has truly been a treat. Perfect weather and lots of activity in the fall blooms. Hard to believe we’re in the last half of October.