Monarchs

MONARCHS 

Monarchs have always had a special place in my heart. They in some ways a highly glorified butterfly for my generation. With their major decline in the the early 2000’s there was always discussion about about climate changes effect on their lifespan. I remember being taught about monarchs the importance of maintaining their food sources and the role it plays in there major migration south annually. 

We’ve always had monarchs at the farm feeding on the milk weed in the fields and pastures. A major food source and habitat for feeding and breeding. They are a gorgeous insect. With black bodies specks in high contrast white. With summer large black and orange wings. With these long nectar collecting tongues- if your lucky enough to see up close you can watch as they send these longs tongues into flowers to feed. 

As both The Intern(my dad) observed this season we watched the monarches flock to the Tithonia we planted this season. With hundreds of these charming creatures find food and refuge in these flowers it made us both wonder “is this a native food source for them” which upon research it is. From what I’ve read it is a manor food source providing them with much needed nutrients after their long journey south. Tithonia is generally flowers in late summer into fall. 

These creatures have always taken up space in my head for a long as I can remember. I have distinct memories of the children’s zone at the New York State museum which used to have a huge display of entomological artifacts with little step stools and magnifying glasses so you could get up close and person with the intercity of specimens. I remember my first visit to the Magical Wings Butterfly conservatory where we watched pinned chrysalises shake and shimmer and new butterflies emerged. Sitting as still as possible in the tropical paradise as hundreds of butterflies fluttered around us hoping I’d be lucky enough to have one land on me. 

Now when I think of monarchs I think of arguably one of my favorite books and definitely one of my favorite authors. Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver. Barbara Kingsolvers books will always hold a special place in my heart for two reasons. One my mother read serval of her novels to me and my brother as children. Two as a dyslexic I am partial to quality audiobook recording and her cadence when reading her own books reminds me of my mother. 

Flight behavior is a great story where monarchs shine while portraying a great divide of American cultures. Its centers around a freak pattern shift in the monarchs normal migration south and how individuals of different races, socioeconomic, religious, political and educational backgrounds interpret the events. It’s a 10/10 read and in my humble opinion a great depiction of rural America- at least us who live in small towns in or surrounding the Appalachian mountain range. It’s definitely a book I look forward to reading aloud to mine own children.