If it weren't for the unseasonable warmth, I wouldn't have eaten my lunch on the patio. I wouldn't have spotted a monarch at the marigolds. I wouldn't have put down my sandwich and gone for my camera.
The monarch flew, but as I sat again, I saw that there were several fluttering around the yard: one at the butterfly bush, one on the nasturtiums, and others fluttering with no special destination that I could tell-- just following the whim of the wind.
Toward evening I walked on the college campus, camera in tow, waiting for the sun to point out pictures for me.
I don't ever remember ever seeing monarchs in October, but they were everywhere. They crossed my path, zigzagged high, fluttered low. They were harder to photograph than falling leaves. They flew high beside two swallows and a dragonfly. I didn't have the patience to sit and try for a shot so I walked on just happy to have seen them.
I rounded a corner and stopped short. There were monarchs at a nectar bar-- a gift from nature to them, and me-- and while they drank their fill of sweet aster juice, I snapped my fill of photos.
These monarchs must be making their fall migration to New Mexico. Thanks to summer weather, they found a nectar source and thanks to the warmth I was there to see it.
This beauty was right under the noses of the students who'd stayed on campus for the long weekend, but they were oblivious to it. Snatches of conversation told me they had other things on their minds. I think maybe most people do.
See more monarchs by clicking "My Flickr" icon in the left margin.
This is a great site on monarch migration: Journey North
“Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower” Albert Camus
Comments
We never seem to appreciate these kind of things until we are older - perhaps because it has more meaning then.
sorry I've been MIA... school is keeping me pretty crazy-busy... but mostly in a good way. we're on "reading week" now, so I'm catching up a bit... we'll see... hope all is well!
Voyager has left a new comment on your post "Monarch magic~":
They are so magnificent. Thank you for the lovely images on a dreary wet day here. I could use a butterfly sighting today.
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You might have to wait until spring for the butterflies to return, but they will. Meanwhile what else is happening in the northwest besides wet and dreary?
R~
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Do you think climate change is causing the Monarchs to be so late in their migration?
I deleted my blog, but I have another one, and you can link to me again through this comment.
I hope you're enjoying your unseasonably warm weather :-)
Cheers,
Josie
As for warmth and the monarchs, I wondered the same thing, but I did some research and it seems that they are on schedule, not unduly late. They navigate using ultraviolet light somehow. Maybe they were just lower because the warmth kept the flowers blooming and thats their source of energy. Who knows, but interesting.
Do you paint?
Have a wonderful week!
You have a great eye for photography.
V.
V~ I'd never reject you intentionally. I also rejected Bob, but asked him to repost. I was going to ask you, but saw from you blog that you were in the midst of something, so . . . I did it myself.