Today I went to a workshop at the Bull Run Mountain Conservancy on how to make vernal pools and found out that making a vernal pool is way out of my league. But what an amazing place! We found green frogs, spotted salamanders, and newts in the pond areas and there were tons of butterflies: black swallowtails, tiger swallowtails, a black and orange one I had never seen before (black on the upper wings, orange on the lower), a small orange one, and this red-spotted purple that was looking for water near the train tracks. In keeping with my violet and yellow flower theme for this week I really wanted to post a picture of a pale lavender monkey flower that I found on the trail, but this was definitely the best shot of the day. I took about 15 photos but only got this one with the wings open.
