Quail Forever in Arkansas, St. Louis, MO (2026)

10/02/2026

Forb Friday • Manyray Aster (𝘚𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘰𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮)

Manyray Aster is a perennial forb that belongs to the Aster family (Asteraceae). This late blooming aster can found across the Ozark, Arkansas River Valley, Ouachita Mountain, and Gulf Coastal Plain ecoregions. It grows really well in shady to partly sunny areas in thickets and woodlands. Manyray Aster can grow up to 4 feet tall and has hairy stems, ovate to lance-shaped laves with heart-shaped bases, and delicate light purple flowers. The flowers are in bloom from July through November.

The flowers attract a variety of insect visitors including bees, flies, and butterflies.

Want to learn more about Manyray Aster? Check out this article from the Arkansas Native Plant Society 👉 https://anps.org/know-your-natives-asters/

Arkansas has over 20 species of native Asters! Have you seen any of them in bloom this year? If so, please let us know in the comments below. 👇We love hearing from you!

📸Small Inset Photo and Background Photo: CC-BY-NC - boverser, inaturalist.org/people/boverser

09/29/2026

‼️𝗪𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ‼️

Quail Forever in Arkansas is hiring a Prescribed Burn Association Coordinator who will work daily with the Arkansas Prescribed Burn Association and all partners and landowners involved in local PBAs.

This position will be remote (central Arkansas preferred) with statewide coverage.

Application Deadline: Open until filled
Anticipated Start Date: November 2, 2026

If you are interested in learning more about the position or want to apply, please follow this link. 👉 https://quailforever.org/about-us/careers/

Want to learn more about the Arkansas Prescribed Burn Association? Follow this link - https://arfire.org

If you know someone who would be a good fit, please share this announcement with them!

𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗬!

09/25/2026

Forb Friday • Nits and Lice (𝘏𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘥𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘪)

Nits and Lice (also known as Drummond's St. John's-wort) is an annual forb that belongs to the St. John's-wort family (Hypericaceae). This forb is found statewide in a variety of open habitats such as barrens, dry woodlands, prairies, and fields. Nits and Lice have rigid stems, linear (almost needle-like) sessile leaves, and yellow "pin-wheel" shaped flowers. The flowers are in bloom from July through September.

You may overlook this tiny gem if you are not paying close enough attention! It can also be confused with Pineweed (𝘏𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴). However, Pineweed has scale-like leaves that cling to the stem while Nits and Lice have have needle-like leaves.

Have you seen Nits and Lice in bloom this year? If so, please let us know in the comment section below. 👇We love hearing from you!

📸Small Inset Photo: CC-BY-NC - Cindy, inaturalist.org/people/ozarkedge; Background Photo: CC-BY-NC - Theo Witsell, inaturalist.org/people/theo_witsell

09/18/2026

Forb Friday • Chicory (𝘊𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘺𝘣𝘶𝘴)

Chicory (also known as Succory or Blue-sailors) is a non-native perennial plant that belongs to the Aster family (Asteraceae). Originally from Europe, Chicory has spread to multiple northwestern counties in Arkansas, and is becoming more common in the Midwest and out East. Chicory can be found along roadsides, fencerows, and in areas with disturbed soil. This plant can grow up to 3 feet tall, branches occasionally, has alternate lanceolate leaves, and purplish blue flowers. Each petal has five tiny teeth on the tip. The flowers are in bloom from late May through November.

The flowers attract short-tongued bees and probably other floral visitors. Chicory has also been planted as livestock forage.

Have you seen Chicory in bloom this year? If so, please let us know in the comments below. 👇We love hearing from you!

📸Small Inset Photo: CC-BY-NC - Tony Iwane, inaturalist.org/people/tiwane; Background Photo: CC-BY-NC - Kevin, inaturalist.org/people/chdphoto

09/14/2026

Last month, Grace Lovett, Central Arkansas Quail Forever Farm Bill Biologist, received the 2026 Conservation Educator Award from the Arkansas Wildlife Federation!

This award recognized Grace's efforts in communicating the importance of habitat restoration, management strategies, and at-risk wildlife species to a broad audience across central Arkansas. Most notably, Grace partnered with AGFC Private Lands staff to deliver a week long prescribed fire course to UCA students. Grace saw the need for more prescribed fire education at the college level, and worked to make it happen.

Congratulations Grace and the other award recipients! We appreciate you for going above and beyond for wildlife conservation!

09/11/2026

Forb Friday • Stiff-leaved Goldenrod (𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘥𝘢)

Stiff-leaved Goldenrod (also known as Stiff Goldenrod) is a perennial forb that belongs to the Aster family (Asteraceae). In Arkansas, you can only find Stiff-leaved Goldenrod in a handful of counties scattered across the state. This plant occurs in glades, barrens, and prairies. Stiff-leaved Goldenrod is 2-5 feet tall with unbranched stems, only branching close to the inflorescence. The stem and the leaves have a rough sandpapery texture. The inflorescence is made up of showy yellow flowers that are in bloom from August through October.

This forb attracts a variety of insect visitors including native bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, and beetles. Stiff-leaved Goldenrod and other late-blooming goldenrods are important nectar sources for migrating Monarch butterflies.

Stiff-leaved Goldenrod is easy to plant, and does well in garden settings. If you want to provide late season resources for pollinators and wildlife, please make sure you are incorporating fall-blooming plants in your garden.

Do you have a favorite Goldenrod species? Please let us know in the comments below. 👇We love hearing from you!

📸Small Inset Picture: CC-BY-NC - Linda Gurgone, inaturalist.org/people/wdstknaturalyard; Background Picture: CC-BY-NC - Thilina Hettiarachchi, inaturalist.org/people/thilinahettiarachchi

09/10/2026

𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩, 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘈𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘴 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 (𝘈𝘙𝘞𝘐).

🦋🐝Pillar Two | Monarch & Pollinator Conservation 🐝🦋

If you are just starting your habitat improvement journey, this post is for you!

1️⃣We highly recommend that you set up a time to meet your local Private Lands Biologist. Quail Forever in Arkansas and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission have Private Lands Biologists stationed across the state. Both organizations have staff that provide FREE technical assistance to landowners, and they can help landowners navigate voluntary cost incentive programs that are available through state and federal agencies.
🔍Quail Forever in Arkansas Staff - https://quailforever.org/get-involved/find-a-biologist/
🔍AGFC Private Lands Staff - https://www.agfc.com/education/private-lands-habitat-division/

2️⃣Learn as much as you can about native plants! Native vegetation is so important for the health of not only pollinators and wildlife, but entire ecosystems. If your goal is to attract more pollinators to your property, start to incorporate plants that are native to your area.

🔍Want to know if a plant is native? Check out either of these websites - https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/ and https://bonap.net/Napa/Genus/Traditional/County

There are also wonderful Arkansas specific plant identification guides available.

3️⃣To truly appreciate something, you need to make a connection. If you want to learn about the pollinators visiting your property, consider downloading the iNaturalist app onto your phone. You just need to create a free account to sign-up. The iNaturalist app will allow you to take pictures and videos of any pollinator that visits your property, and once you submit an observation, you will likely be able to identify the pollinator! Now, the quality of images and videos matter for identification. Once you identify the pollinator, you can determine if they have a host plant, need certain nesting sites, when they emerge, and etc. That can better inform your management decisions moving forward.

The main takeaway is that help is available to you! We are always happy to help you meet your habitat goals.

09/09/2026

𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩, 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘈𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘴 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 (𝘈𝘙𝘞𝘐).

🦋🐝Pillar Two | Monarch & Pollinator Conservation 🐝🦋

Arkansas is fortunate to have a diversity of late season pollinators. Some of the most visible pollinators are our butterflies, but they aren't the only pollinators on the landscape during late summer through fall. If you want to see a diversity of pollinators this fall, you need to plant a diversity of native fall blooming plants. Here is a short list of native species that are pollinator magnets.

🦋Goldenrods (𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘰 spp.)
🦋Ironweeds (𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 spp.)
🦋Blazing Stars (𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘴 spp.)
🦋Asters (𝘚𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘰𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘮 spp.)
🦋Bonesets (𝘌𝘶𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮 spp.)

Here is a quick overview of six common butterfly species you may encounter this time of year. Have you seen any of these butterflies flying around your property? Maybe others? Please let us know in the comments below. 👇

Want pollinators on your property? Plant and/or restore native habitat!

09/04/2026

Forb Friday • Deptford Pink (𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢)

Deptford Pink is an annual or biennial forb that belongs to the Pink family (Caryophyllaceae). Originating from Eurasia, this non-native forb has spread throughout much of Arkansas. It prefers open habitats such as pastures, fields, and woodland edges. This forb is easily overlooked when it is not in flower. Once in bloom, the bright pink petals are quite noticeable amongst green vegetation, and each flower is speckled with white irregular dots. You will likely see this plant in bloom from May through September.

Deptford Pink is a poor competitor against native perennial vegetation, and it will likely disappear from a area once perennial plants are established and thriving.

Have you seen Deptford Pink in your area? If so, please let us know in the comment section below.👇 We love hearing from you!

📸Small Inset Picture: CC-BY-NC - Lada Malek, inaturalist.org/people/lada51newttb; Background Picture: CC-BY-NC - leahbergman, inaturalist.org/people/leahbergman

08/28/2026

Forb Friday • Lanceleaf Frogfruit (𝘗𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢)

Lanceleaf Frogfruit is a perennial forb that belongs to the Verbena family (Verbenaceae). This forb has a statewide distribution, and can be found in wet prairies, seeps, floodplain forests, and moist areas in yards. Easily overlooked, this low-growing sprawling plant has opposite leaves with serrate margins and flowers arranged in whorls around the spike. The flowers are small, consisting of five lobed petals. The flowers come in a range of pink, white, and light purple hues. They are in bloom from summer into fall.

The flowers attract a variety of insect visitors including bees, flies, bee flies, small butterflies, and skippers.

Have you seen Lanceleaf Frogfruit in bloom this year? If so, please let us know in the comments below. 👇We love hearing from you!

📸Small Inset Picture: CC-BY-NC - tallpaultheforester, inaturalist.org/people/tallpaultheforester; Background Picture: CC-BY-NC - taylorse, inaturalist.org/people/taylorse

Quail Forever in Arkansas

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