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MOUNTAINLIFEBLUEMOUNTAINS
SUMMER2016
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Amonarch sips nectar fromabuddleja, or butterflybush, nearTobermory,Ontario. SCOTTPARENT
Summer, 1999: I embarkwith three friends to
paddle out toGiant’sTomb IslandonGeorgian
Bay, inone canoe. In the channel we encounter
a lonemonarchbutterfly crossing toward the
same destination.We eventually partways and
before too longwe encounter another lone pilot
on a similar path.We arrive on theTomb and
beginbeachcombing the southeast shoreline.We
hear thewind andwaves crashingon the north
shore, unlike the lee sidewe paddled inon, and
curiouslywander over. Completely different shore.
Granite boulder coastline, andwhitecaps on the
Bay.We continue to circumnavigate the island.
We hadn’t imposed a timeframe and could either
complete the islandor cut through the forest
back toour startingpoint.At a certainpointwe
decide to tackle the latter, and choose anopening
in the forest.We delve a little deeper beforewe
come across a spectaclewe hadnot expected:A
grove plasteredwithmonarchbutterflies nesting
together. Fromhigh above us, encircling a small
opening, every surface of branch supports a
monarch, imitating the leaves of the forest.
Recently I satwithAudreyArmstrong, amember
of theMonarchTeacher Network of Canada, at
Rachel’s Diner in Lion’s Head and askedherwhat
THEMONARCHEFFECT
HELPINGMONARCHBUTTERFLIESFINDTHEIRWAYSTATIONS
