Euptoieta claudia aka variegated fritillary raised from caterpillar captured on passion vine leaf on World Peace Wetland Prairie a couple of weeks earlier

Until it formed chrysalis, caterpillar below had to have a fresh passion-flower leaf daily

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Variegated caterpillars were busy on passion vine leaves on May 8, 2011.

One taken on its leaf and placed in small plastic pet carrier

Chrysalis shell was empty and tiny variegated fritillary graced the box on morning of May 25, 2012

Please scroll down to May 8, 2012, post on this site to see the caterpillar on a Passion flower leaf before he was captured, put in pet carrier for a few days with fresh leaves daily until he formed a chrysalis and finally emerged as a butterfly during the night of May 24-25, 2012.

Smithsonian Magazine publishes one of my milkweed photos taken in 2010 at World Peace Wetland Prairie with a story that mentions seeds of Asclepius viridis

Please click on image to ENLARGE. My photo credit line at lower left edge of the page is tiny, but it is almost as big as Thoreau's name after his quote at the top of the page.

May 8, 2012, new beauties on and near World Peace Wetland Prairie

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Variegated fritillary caterpillar on passion vine, At first I thought it was a Gulf fritillary cat.

Asclepias purpurascens

Flowerfly on sensitive briar

Mimosa microphylla with hover fly

large milkweed bug on Asclepias viridis

Map and descriptions of gardens on May 26, 2012 OMNI peace-garden tour

Link to Google Map online.

"Bamboo Peace Garden"  1039 E. Overcrest St.  (South of Township; west of Old Wire Rd.) 
Peace Gardeners: Hamsa & Moshe Newmark

Enter this garden and feel transported into a unique environment, “a world unto its own.”  A graceful forest of a variety of bamboo populates the grounds. The newest addition is the presence of an octagon, all-cedar meditation temple.  All are invited to sit in the meditation temple and reflect upon the nature of peace that the garden effuses.  In addition, there are numerous benches in the garden to sit and enjoy the different views of the swaying bamboo. Tea and beverage will be available.

"Blue Birds of Peace Garden"   951 Missouri Way (Turn west off Assembly) 
Peace Gardeners: Marshall Carter, Marilyn Fincher (for Nancy Maier)

"The focal point of my peace garden is an Ozark flagstone tree-shaped patio designed by Quinn Landrum and built by Quinn and his father, the artist M.M. Kent. The center of the patio is a single orange stone sun with rays extending outward.  Next to the patio is a terraced planting area for sunflowers, lavender, and butterfly bush. The area is surrounded on three sides by a fence and several birdhouses."  It Includes a Peace Pole.  Additional flowers: daisies, Solomon Seal, zinnias, spearmint, geraniums, lilies, sedum.  There are also vegetables: squash, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes.  A Zen white sand garden adds to the general beauty and cheer." —Nancy Maier

"Heartwood Gallery Garden" 428 S. Government Ave.
Peace Gardeners: Anita and Edward Hejtmanek

A streetscape gem of a flower garden at the entrance to Heartwood Gallery

"Parrish Peace Place" 2809 N. Cedar Hill Drive 
Peace Gardeners: David & Cookie Parrish

(DIRECTIONS: Half way to Goshen on Hwy. 45, going east, just past a new church (on the left). TURN RIGHT up hill before red balloons.). Begun in 1995, this 3 1/2-acre landscape holds varied spaces and carefully tended areas — specially named gardens in one area, bountiful trees in another, and home and workshop in another. There are many opportunities to walk and discover plantings and David's woodwork. Please feel free to sit on one of the many benches, listen to the music from the house speaker on the back deck and have something cool to drink in Margaret's Garden picnic area!

"Peace in Our Lifetime Garden" 4880 W. Wedington Drive (Hwy 16 west of 540)    Peace Gardeners: Unity Center For Conscious Living
You are invited to step into the labyrinth and walk the sandy path to the center and experience the peace that passes all understanding. In the center of the labyrinth you will find our peace pole presented to us by Omni Center. You are also welcome to visit our community garden, “Unity Organic Garden”.

"Peace Trees Garden"
2008 W. Cleveland Street (just up from Sang) Peace Gardener: Cathy Boyd
Two acres of large trees, clusters of flowers scattered beneath, swimming pool surrounded by flowers, vine-covered arbor perfect for snacks and drinks.   (Parking in lot adjacent east.)

"Stroll Garden for Peace & Serenity "
17095 Lake Sequoyah Drive  Peace Gardener: Anne Reichardt

(DIRECTIONS: From School Ave. take Martin L. King Blvd. east toward Elkins for 5.4 miles (@ 1.5 mi it becomes Huntsville Rd., or, Hwy 16 east). Turn left onto Lake Sequoyah Dr. for 2.1 miles; okay to park in Fire Department lot on the left, the house and studio are on the right, the 2-acre garden is "up back".) Begun 6 years ago, this garden honors the natural character of the rural Arkansas landscape while incorporating Soto Zen accents. Enjoy the labyrinth consisting of many intriguing earth, stone, and repurposed sculptural elements among native plants, which are flourishing. Celebrate with chamber music playing in the gazebo in early afternoon.

"Wishing Ball Peace Garden"  885 N. Fritz Drive (Off College, corner of Fritz & Cleburn)
Peace Gardeners: Kelly Mulhollan & Donna Stjerna of Still on the Hill

Dedicated to the late, great songwriter, Nick Masullo, the garden features many spheres, including a 4' tall "Wishing Ball" in front painted like the earth. The back yard is host to the annex "Mug Tree", modeled after Clara’s "The Mug Tree" in Batesville, AR. in memory of her son, which is now on the Historic Tree Register and is an AIDS awareness tree. A small veg garden on side, a small herb garden (help yourself) out front, and of course several peace poles.  The home is also the acclaimed Ozark Ball Museum (50-cent admission (or a ball!)).  Delicately lined with japanese honysuckle and privit, there are rock-lined flower beds and lots of mint.



View OMNI Peace Gardens Tour 2012 in a larger map
Poster design by Lauren D Hawkins

Penstemon digitalis in bloom at World Peace Wetland Prairie on May 2, 2012, which means it is flowering in many other prairie and woodland sites in Northwest Arkansas, but buckeye butterfly prefers the flower (rose family) of the common wild blackberry vine at WPWP today

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Aubrey James Shepherd videos feature gentle, harmless garter snakes

www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=9YRLqG9qKlo

Asclepias amplexicaulis succeeds only on driest part of World Peace Wetland Prairie but is extremely successful on higher, drier ground

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Asclepias amplexicaulis summer 2010

Asclepias amplicaulis seed pod 2010 Fayetteville, Arkansas. Photos by Aubrey James Shepherd

Asclepias amplexicaulis 16 April 2012

Joe Neal's bird list after nature walk celebrating Earth Day at World Peace Wetland Prairie 2012

EARTHY KICK-OFF AT WORLD PEACE WETLAND PRAIRIE April 15, 2012

 EARTH DAY 2012 photos on Flickr.
Earth Day celebrants have, in a manner of speaking, been partying around Fayetteville for at least a week. Yesterday it was earth’s turn at World Peace Wetland Prairie (WPWP) in south Fayetteville, starting at 1 PM. However, the earth got ahead. At noon a huge thunder-boomer rolled in, with plenty of rain the earth really needed. Rained on the parade, so to speak, but didn’t stop it.

I got to WPWP around 2 PM, umbrella-time. Several of us paraded along a wet path through a couple of acres, taking advantage of a sudden rain gap, with those remarkable sun rays called angel slides. Northern Cardinals and an Eastern Towhee obliged with singing. We had unexpected views of an Orange-crowned and a Palm Warbler, a singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and quite a few Yellow-rumped Warblers festivally-attired in yellows, blacks, grays, and whites of their upcoming nesting season. White-throated Sparrows -- many now with reddish wings, brilliant white head stripes and throat, gold accents in front of their eyes -- were singing and chasing everywhere. Then rain returned.

Of course rain with umbrellas is no impediment to flower-admiring. With and without umbrellas we enjoyed native red honeysuckle, an indigo bush just ready to bloom, a strange flowering sedge and bunches of yucca-like leaves of rattlesnake master at both WPWP and adjoining Pinnacle Prairie. The Silphium called cup plant won’t bloom until later, but its huge coarsely-toothed leaves were emerged from adjoining greens, full of promise, just right for Earth Day 2012.

Earth Day celebration delayed until 2 p.m. or after. Still on the Hill with the music and Joe Neal and Burnetta Hinterthuer will start the nature walks after 2 p.m.

Earth Day celebration delayed until 2 p.m. as the storms pass. The rain will make the reality of wetland's importance obvious.

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Lonicera sempervirens (native noninvasive honeysuckle) on April 15, 2012, at World Peace Wetland Prairie.

Eighth-annual Earth Day at World Peace Wetland Prairie 1-5 p.m. Sunday at 1121 S. Duncan Avenue in Fayetteville, Arkansas, free to all

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