The Diamond Lakes Arkansas Master Naturalists entertained and educated a crowd of around 140 people on Saturday, June 4, at the Butterfly Garden located on the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail near the intersection of Valley and Runyan streets, a Master Naturalists news release said.

The event began with Certified Arkansas Master Naturalist Bill Randel leading a guided hike along the Greenway Trail from the Hot Springs Farmers & Artisans Market to the Butterfly Garden.

"Participants learned about the variety of trees bordering the Greenway Trail as they walked to the garden. Three participants were awarded Arkansas Master Naturalists hats for being able to correctly identify trees," the release said.

Brian Fisher, landscape superintendent for the Hot Springs Department of Parks and Trails, welcomed everyone to the event. Fisher and his staff were on hand to help showcase the Greenway Trail and Butterfly Garden.

Certified Master Naturalists Karen Hicks presented a brief program on the migration of monarch butterflies and the importance of milkweed plants to their survival. Hicks then released around 40 monarch butterflies "to the delight of children and adults." She explained the butterflies were first-generation monarchs that would begin their migration north where they will mate and produce the next generation of butterflies to continue the migration. Next fall, the fourth generation of monarchs will travel to Mexico to overwinter there until the migration begins again next spring.

Diamond Lakes Arkansas Master Naturalists is accepting applications for membership. Training classes are scheduled throughout the year. Anyone interesting in joining can visit the AMN website at http://www.arkansasmasternaturalists.org and click on "How do I Join?" Membership applications are available online.