The winds were shifting and gusting and thunderheads were accumulating overhead, but these butterflies appeared serene, even focused, clinging to the swaying and swinging New England Aster blossoms. Whenever the Tortoise Cat, my favorite strolling companion, launched herself toward the closest one of these irresistible, vibrant mini-birds, the amazing critter appeared to linger several extra moments, almost at paw's length, as if on purpose, before winging jestingly yet gracefully up and over to the next flower.
It is easy to miss this brief, showy "nectar and go" refueling landing several squadrons of each new, bright generation of southward winging Monarchs swoop down into this garden for every year, usually for only a few hours on some early September day. I was happy our walk happened by this sheltered courtyard just in time to appreciate the spectacle again this season.
Photo: Monarch butterfly refueling with nectar from New England Asters on the east side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on September 5, 2010, early afternoon, by Shamanic Shift (a.k.a. ECP) on Flickr.com
When I returned less than an hour later hoping to snap some better pictures, without my Tortoise Cat helper assisting, I was not too surprised to find these marvelous migrating butterfly sovereigns had already flown on.
Photo: A Monarch, un-flapped by playful swipes from my Tortoise Cat, returns full attention to a "nectar and go" refueling stopover, by Shamanic Shift (a.k.a. ECP) on Flickr.com
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