The Nature Conservancy will be hosting a photo opportunity at Smith Creek on Saturday, April 10, 2010. There will be Arkansas nature photographers on hand to answer questions and offer tips. Those scheduled to attend are:

Michael Dougherty      www.arkansaswildlifephotography.com

Paul Caldwell      www.photosofarkansas.com

Bob Shull    www.bobshull.com

and yours truly!!!!

You can contact the Nature Conservancy for details and reserve a spot at 479-973-9110, speak with Brenda Luper.

The creek has a good amount of flow, including a number of the side drains. The preserve does not have alot of color, but some good color on the rocks and boulders. The best time to visit is early or late on sunny days or all day if its cloudy.

Fall color in the Valley is probably past peak, but still good in some locations.

The elk in the valley are putting on some good shows most days. The largest numbers are near the intersection of 43 and 21. One really nice herd bull in the Steeel Creek fields. Be sure to check out Lost Valley as well.

Terri and I spent the day at the Creek, to do a little work on the lower creek trail, prior to the work day. The wildflowers continue to bloom. Blue Phlox is blooming well and scattered around the property. Dutchman's Breeches, Toothwort, Blood Root, and Pale Corydalis are on the decline. The Yellow Trout Lilys really put on a show in the afternoon. The False Rue Anemone are getting more numerous as well.

We were able to get to the lower creek. There wasn't any water in the creek bed except for the deep holes and some in the side drains. We got to the tall waterfall on the lower creek. It is a side drain that has about a 50 ft. slide. It had a really good flow. Found some other good drains for when the water is there.

In the lower area we also came across Sharp Lobed Hepatica. A little white wildflower and not very common. This is a close cousin to the more common Round Lobed Hepatica.

Sharp Lobed Hepatica

The first Saturday of Spring. What a beautiful day to be at Smith Creek. 45 degrees and raining. It is really hard to take pictures with a towel over the camera.

There was lots of water, very dingy and brown. It should clear quickly. This is the first good water day since January. Almost all of the side falls were running. I walked down to the lower part of the creek, while marking the new trail. Found some really good side falls, but I didn't have the camera. It was raining pretty hardand I did not want the extra weight for the climb back up. The drop in elevation from the road is over 400 feet.

The wildflowers are getting their act together. Lots of Dutchmans Breeches, Toothwort, Bloodroot, False Rue Anemone, and Pale Corydalis. A few White Trout Lilys, Yellow Trout Lilys, and Blue Violets. Also, located a few Pussy Toes. Harbinger of Spring is still blooming, but hard to find.

Twigs in the springs at Smith Creek.