Today I visited a XLP in Huntingdon county.  I've only been to this site once before.  Its a nice site as it has very little in the way of exotic invaders in the herb layer at least.  I also like it as the dominant prairie grasses vary from spot to spot.

Above is a area dominated by tall grasses.  Big bluestem has its inflorescence's up now and in this picture looks dominant, but if this spot does what it did last year it will be loaded with really cool and yellowish indiangrass panicles in a couple weeks.

 

In areas were the soil gets thinner Bouteloua curtipendula fills in.

Here's a giant swallowtail nectaring on Cirsium discolor.  I haven't noticed any giant swallowtails around the big hollow prairies.  This is probably due to the absence of the swallowtails local host plant prickly ash (Xanthoxylum americanum) at big hollow.

Then there was this butterfly.  I haven't learned this one yet, but apparently it likes sweat and grime.  When this species opens its wings the color is stunning.