Mourning Cloak

If you look closely along the inner trails or even on the biking/walking trail you will see whispers of wings fleeting or fluttering by out of the corner of your eye. It can begin in April with the first signs of the Mourning Cloak as they lay across dried leaves or set upon branches. Mostly you don’t notice them unless they take flight.

Spicebush Swallowtail

As Spring progressed I began to see more butterflies and Skippers emerge from a long winter.

Little Wood Satyr

Common Milkweed

Now that The Summer solstice has passed the Milkweed is beginning to bloom. Monday evening Don and I went for a short walk on the walking/bike path and the fragrance in the air was intoxicating. My husband asked what was giving off such a beautiful scent. When I told him it was the Milkweed he had to bend down and take a whiff to see if I was right. He was amazed.

If you find yourself out driving around the park take a moment to stop along the bay side to take in the fragrance of the Common Milkweed. And in case you didn’t know, Milkweed is the only plant that the Monarch Butterflies lay their eggs on and the only plant that the Monarch Caterpillars eat. My back yard garden is full of Milkweed and this lovely Summer scent.

Monarch

Although I get several butterflies in my yard all of these photos were taken on Presque Isle