Hobbs happenings

Sweetheart lunch/boat cruises

Offered by Hobbs State Park

Share the wonders of nature with your sweetheart this Valentine's Day weekend by taking a boat cruise on beautiful Beaver Lake and enjoying a scrumptious lunch at Ventris Trails End Resort.

Lunch features bacon-wrapped smoked chicken with sautéed mushrooms, onions and cheese, twice baked potato, seasoned green beans, French onion soup and salad with homemade bread rolls, chocolate cake, water, tea, or coffee; or a portabella sandwich.

Alcoholic beverages are available at an additional charge.

There are two Sweetheart Cruises from which to choose. One will run Saturday, Feb. 15, and the other Sunday, Feb. 16. Each cruise will leave Rocky Branch Marina at 11 a.m. and return by 2 p.m.

Cost: $80+ tax per couple or $40+ tax per individual: Reservations and payment must be made in advance. Contact Hobbs State Park -- Conservation Area visitor center to reserve a spot. (479) 789-5000.

Eagle cruises slated

Come the first of November, migrating bald eagles begin to visit Beaver Lake. They are beautiful when they soar overhead, swoop down to the water to catch a fish with their talons, or just sit in a leafless tree. It's indeed exciting to see them. We have been enjoying eagles for over two months now, and Hobbs State Park announces there is still some room for February eagle watch cruises.

February 2020 eagle watch cruise dates:

1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 23, 29

According to interpreter Steve Chyrchel, "Nature's wonders are unpredictable. We may see four or five eagles on a cruise or maybe just one, and on very rare occasion we may not see any. If the weather is beautiful, the eagles are most likely looking for fish somewhere on the wing and not sitting in a tree. There are two things eagle watchers need to remember; one, eagle watching is not a warm weather sport, and two; the nastier the weather the more likely we are to see eagles. If it's cold and a little rainy, that's when eagles sit in a tree and wait for better weather."

Although Hobbs calls these times on the lake "Eagle Cruises," remember that there is other wildlife to see as well. Great blue herons, belted kingfishers, red tailed hawks, and maybe a deer, beaver, or several species of ducks become part of the viewing fun.

No matter what wildlife you see, it's always great to be out on the water. Hobbs State Park provides a safe three-pontoon vessel, driver, and an interpreter to answer questions and share information about our national symbol, the bald eagle.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Adults $10 + tax. Children 6-12 $5 + tax. Tours depart Rocky Branch Marina promptly at 3 p.m. For information and to make reservations, call: 479-789-5000.

Eric Fuselier, environmental scientist,

to speak on winter botany

Plant identification can be challenging, especially during the cold winter months when many species have gone dormant. Luckily, even during the bleak months of winter, plants still provide us with plenty of clues that we can use to identify what species a tree, shrub, or woody vine belongs to. At Hobbs State Park, Eric Fuselier will teach us about these clues, and how, even during the wintertime, botany can still be a fun way to spend time outdoors.

Eric Fuselier is an Environmental Scientist in Crafton Tull's Rogers office. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental, Soil, and Water Science from the University of Arkansas, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Louisiana Tech University. Eric has extensive knowledge of wetland science, soil science, and botany. Eric has served as the president of the Ozark chapter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a professional on how and why Winter Botany can be fun and personally rewarding.

Where: Hobbs State Park visitor center located on Hwy 12 just east of the Hwy 12/War Eagle Road intersection.

When: 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020

Cost: Free -- Public invited

For more information, call: 479-789-5000

This program is a continuation of the Friends of Hobbs monthly Speaker Series. To learn more about upcoming Friends of Hobbs speakers and other park programs, go to: http://www.friendsofhobbs.com/ and www.ArkansasStateParks.com/hobbsstateparkconservationarea.

Fun with Mother Nature

It's not every day that we observe Mother Nature. She's careful regarding when she can be seen by humans. One of her favorite stops however, is Hobbs State Park. Every second Saturday of the month she drops in at the Park's visitor center to tell timely stories to her little human friends. Readings begin at 10:30 a.m. Story time will be followed by "hands-on" nature-craft activities. Humans of all ages are welcome, however most stories target those 3- to 6-years of age.

Upcoming Mother Nature visits:

Feb. 8 -- The Woods in Winter: Where are the Animals?

Mar. 14 -- Getting Ready for Spring: Changes in the Woods

April 11 -- Dandelions: Stars in the Grass

May 9 -- Around the Pond: Frogs and Toads

June 13 -- Animals in the Night

July 11 -- Water Dance-Water Cycle & Storm Drain Pollution

Aug. 8 -- Caterpillar to Butterfly

Sept. 12 -- Autumn in the Woods: Preparing for Winter

Oct. 10 -- Bats: Not Really Scary

Nov. 14 -- It's Turkey Time

Dec. 12 -- Who Goes There? Footprints and Animal Signs

Meet Mother Nature in the lobby of the Hobbs State Park Conservation Area visitor center.

Cost: Free - Length: one hour. For information call: 479-789-5000.

Ozark Forest Forensics is topic

Dr. Fred Paillet to reveal a new way to look at the Ozark woods in his talk at Hobbs State Park entitled, "Ozark Forest Forensics."

It's all about the science behind the scenery in our regional forests. As we go hiking, there are things right before our eyes that happened yesterday, or even a million years ago, that are easy to understand if we take pause to look at them.

As Dr. Paillet puts it in the new book Ozark Forest Forensics he co-authored, "The book interprets our natural surroundings in a way that enhances a simple walk in the scenic deciduous woodlands of the Ozark Mountain region. Explanations go beyond trees and their habitat to include other diverse subjects: the leaf litter beneath a hiker's feet, strategies used by wildflowers for pollination and seed dispersal, diseases that can ravage our forests, and forces active in the landscape that impact conservation efforts. I've added simplified line drawings to demonstrate specific points of interest in a way that visually-cluttered photographs cannot do."

Taking a little time to look at and understand your surroundings greatly adds to the enjoyment of any hike in the woods. Learn how to interpret those things you see and appreciate on a hike, but never much thought about before.

Where: Hobbs State Park visitor center

When: 2 p.m. Sunday, April 5, 2020

Cost: Free -- Public invited

For information, call: 479-789-5000.

This program is a continuation of the Friends of Hobbs monthly Speaker Series. To learn about upcoming Friends of Hobbs speakers and other park programs, go to: http://www.friendsofhobbs.com/ and www.ArkansasStateParks.com/hobbsstateparkconservationarea.