nn4402 Earl Plato
Almost the end of August last year and a chance to walk Marcy Woods and butterfly meadows. It’s been a long time - almost two months since I entered one of my favourite nature areas. The right ankle - tendonitis and all - was in pretty good shape.
Rob Eberly set up the ramble for Saturday. “Bring your lunch. We don’t know how long we will be,” was his advice.
Who was going? None other than our butterfly expert, Melvin Dell of the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservancy. The other three of us were from the Bert Miller Nature Club - Rob, Dr. Rick Stockton, and myself.
A glorious summer morning as we started into Marcy Woods on the Lower Trail. Rob’s plan was to walk the Woods then the meadows.
Quiet, very still as we walked the undulating forested path. With few walkers these past months the pathway was growing in. Common plantain carpeted the trail. A hop tree was covered with tiny caterpillars. Rick Stockton counted 14 Giant Swallowtail butterflies would emerge next June. Rob set up his tripod and snapped the scene. Melvin Dell told us that the Conservancy raises mainly the exotic tropical variety but does hatch some indigenous varieties including monarchs and swallowtails.
We approached the spice bushes that border the trail. I took a leaf and crushed it in my hand. The fragrant and delicate odour I smelled and passed it on to Melvin. Melvin is very knowledgeable as many of you know - not just for the Lepidoptera but for all kinds of plants, shrubs and trees. To our disappointment there was not a profusity of butterflies. Melvin didn’t seem to mind.
We saw one of my favourites, the Spicebush Swallowtail flitting around.
My camera couldn’t catch it on film. Here’s a drawing of mine.
We walked the trail to the rustic Marcy cabin and descended the steps. Back to the cars? Yes and no. Rick decided to walk north up the road pass our vehicles. Here we entered a side trail to the butterfly meadows. All of the years I had been coming here with butterfly lovers this was my first entry this way. The late Dr. Marcy had invited former area naturalist, Ernie Giles, and I to enter the meadows down the farm path. Many times we used this farm lane. Then on Matthew’s Road we entered the Marcy property following mowed pathways. Up until now this was our easiest access to the butterfly fields. Remember this entry is through private property. Butterflies love the towering Joe Pye weed, Boneset, and mikweed that grow profusely here. Blue lobelia and other flowering plants dotted the butterfly meadows. Was that a Buckeye, a Common Buckeye? There’s a Checkerspot. Was that a Meadow fritillary? We saw another Spicebush Swallowtail passing over a stand of Joe Pye. Where were the myriad of butterflies that we had expected to show Melvin Dell. Not his day. It had been a good walk on a beautiful summer day.
Writer’s Note: West Nile virus and mosquitos - not for me. Long sleeved shirt and pants plus OFF. No mosquitos this day.
We never took Melvin to the other attractive trails or to the beautiful beach. Last year Monarchs were in great number clinging on the poplar trees on the expansive beach.
Rob, Rick and I want Melvin to see the rest of the Marcy trails and property. He’s a ‘plant man’ and will relish the great variety found there even if the usual butterflies are not present in greater numbers.
I have the Butterfly Conservancy Guide book. It’s a good buy.
Papilio troilus it’s in the book - page four - Spicebush Swallowtail.
Marcy Woods, beach and meadows have been a blessing to countless nature lovers over the years. May it continue to be so.