This morning we hosted a pop up field trip at the Pollinator Ranch for the Trinity Forks NPSOT chapter. Four people signed up for the event.
Before the group arrived, a small Paper Wasp (Polistes) was semi-cooperative for a photo. She was a bit sluggish from the cool morning, but still managed to keep crawling to the other side. At this time I don’t want to take her to species for an ID. 🤷🏻♀️
Handing Barbara a loupe, she bent to look at the Side Oats Grama.
Mark looked too!
Everyone took a turn at looking through the loupe to enjoy the stunning micro world of the flowers and grasses.
The group admired the Arkansas Yucca empty seed pod.
The Buckeye cat was a beauty.
And delighting all, the Monarchs on the Narrow-leaf Gayfeather (Liatris punctata var mucronata)!
Admiring the giant Post Oaks!
Now I was about to give up on finding the Wilson’s Wood-nymph (Xerociris wilsonii) on the host plant, Cow-itch (Cissus incisa). Then they came racing by at break neck caterpillar speed!
People’s stomachs were growling. And we headed back to the house. 🙂
Great day at the Pollinator Ranch! If you want to know when the next pop up field trips occurs become a member with the Trinity Forks chapter to get your alert for the next one. 🙂
Lucky people that got to visit the pollinator ranch. It’s a beautiful place.
What a great time for a field trip! And nice the wood-nymph made an appearance!
Wish I could have joined. The woodhnymph caterpillar is neat, and now I’ll have to examine cow-itch vine to see if I can shoot one.