Butterflies Anyone?

Butterflies Anyone? Earl Plato
Lepidopterist? I don’t think so. Like many of you I have always been fascinated with butterflies. After all these years you think I would remember the names of the more common species. We have two thriving butterfly bushes in front of out little retirement home. Elaine called out as she stepped out the front door “Earl, look at this butterfly!” Sister-in-law Rosie and Elaine looked at the beautiful specimen perched on the long flower head. “I know what it is?” I do. Then name it. I couldn’t. I went to my little office and brought out three butterfly reference books. My Audubon Butterfly Field Guide had the obvious answer. There staring me in my face - on the cover was - the Red Admiral! Once again I quote Audubon - “Unmistakable and unforgettable.” It reads, “The Red Admiral is the butterfly that will alight on your shoulder day after day in your garden.” This is one of our friendliest butterflies.
“Red” I would say its bars are black with orange-red. More orange to me but still one of more attractive ones. I know. I have been to the Butterfly Conservatory but they’re imports, eh.
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On this Tuesday in late August I walked alone on the nature trail at Westfield Heritage Village. My wife and other relatives had decided to head back to the the village. Earl was determined to photograph the big Black Oak and the farm ruins mentioned in the brochure. This is a three mile walk but it seemed much longer. It was sunny but still cool. I saw a young Basswood with its large leaves, three species of Goldenrod including the Zig-Zag. On my left of the gravel path was a line of Black-eyed Susans interspersed among Purple asters. Probably seeded there. I stopped and framed a shot.
I had passed through the rows of Red pine where mosquitos had first attacked. Now they were back. I had my spray with me and it sufficed. I looked ahead. No end to the trail it seemed. No one around. All was peaceful. Then the butterflies appeared. First a Mourning Cloak then four Common Sulphurs. They seemed to follow me. The Sulphurs are a pretty, yellow butterfly with sharp black borders. I guess this was the mating season for the two frollicking pair moved along with me for some time.
Finally I came to a bend in the road. The main trail turned westwards. Decision time. I looked at my CAA 44 Country Trails booklet, page 68. I must go due south. Yes, this time I had my compass with me! I had no sooner walked a few hundred feet along a much narrower path and there straight ahead loomed a giant Black Oak. This was almost as far as I would go. I snapped the towering oak from a few angles and then moved on to the meadow area and took a shot of the farm ruins.
Note: We came to Westfield Heritage Village (formerly Wentworth Pioneer Village) to see the 35 original pioneer buildings. We did and saw the natural setting used for the Anne of Green Gables and the Road to Avonlea episodes. That alone is worth the visit. But you know me I had to track the back trails for a nature fix. For information on Westfield call (519) 621-6897 or E-mail: westfield@worldchat.com