Monarchs

A swarm of Monarch butterflies stopped by yesterday to visit. They dined on the blooms of the Evergreen Sumac growing at the east corner of the south porch. It’s a first, and I was happy to be of service as they made their way south to breed. Milkweed may be a favorite food, but they sure seemed happy with the Sumac’s flowers. It will be interesting to see if there are more today.

The Sumac was also alive with bees, big and small, and red wasps. Apparently, the Sumac has some mighty fine nectar. I can’t say it has much of a fragrance, although my bouts with Covid may have impacted my sense of smell and I’m sure age has something to do with it as well. Anyway, the tree was alive with insects yesterday, and it was a delight to see.

I am indebted to my arborist son for the Sumac. During his tenure at the house he did his best to create a vibrant, woodland-like ecosystem on our small patch of ground, particularly paying attention to understory trees. It has worked to the benefit of the trees big and small, the insects who need them to survive, and me, the observer and caretaker. It’s a nice, interconnected piece of the world at large, a place where a man can feel right at home, and does.