Incredible richness of summer life. As I’ve described in other high-summers, the richness of this time is so visceral, so intensely, physically, in-your-face real, that it is almost hard to believe. Everything is alive — the sky dancing with little lightning-spark fireflies, maybe turned on by real lightning or even the heat-lightning (itself just a reflection from distant flashes) pulsing silently through the summer clouds; the very air itself is thick with humidity and every kind of flying-insect buzzing around; even the ground is crawling with life-forms all bound on their own inscrutable journey. It seems like every bird on earth is calling, feeding, fledging their young, barn swallows scooping up bugs in mid-air, bald eagles grabbing young-of-the-year striped bass with one deft swoop, ruby-throated hummingbirds busily nectaring on flower after flower — all to the magical flute-like tune of the wood thrush echoing through the woods. Thus far, it’s been a great summer for butterflies and moths, with one very major exception — monarchs. I’ve not seen one yet this season and none have been confirmed locally that I know of. The monarch lookalikes, or mimics — great northern fritillary, viceroys, yes, Monarchs, no. Plenty of tiger swallowtails (not so many blacks), other fritillaries, various skippers and others but, alas — no Monarchs. With any luck at all, they just took a wrong turn and, having gotten the correct directions to their ancestral summer-home, are winging their way here right now (see, I’m such a dreamer). Too bad, too. It’s a good year for milkweed locally but they look forlorn waiting for their butterfly kings and queens. For more on monarchs, hummingbirds and other migrators, in general, see www.journeynorth.org. For a great local take on the subject, visit Maraleen Manos-Jones (The Butterfly Lady) at www.spiritofbutterflies.com. She has a wonderful butterfly garden in Shokan and gives tours and lectures there. As far as other, smaller insects, though, it does seem that their populations are down a bit (except for ticks, of course). Not noticing too much of a “windshield-effect” this year and there aren’t that many crickets, grasshoppers or katydids, yet. Maybe the (seemingly) ceaseless rain has affected them all locally. This past winter was mild, which is one reason the mountain laurel bloom was so spectacular this year. We did have a nice moccasin flower bloom (pink lady-slippers, to most), as well.
A meadow’s memory
I’ve wondered for a long time now if, when the monarchs are in their dormant winter-phase, all huddled together on oyamel fir trees in the Michoacan mountains, do they dream of their warm, golden meadows in the north? Do they transmit — or otherwise describe to their young — their memories of milkweeds known in un-mown fields of clover, timothy, beebalm and goldenrod in sunlit lands far afield? If indeed the monarchs are on the verge of extinction (let’s hope that their recent nose-dive in population is just a glitch, a temporary phenomenon), we may never know. Once Upon A Time, after all, many a tawny monarch and his queen cavorted in our fair fields, pirouetting above the sere grasses in their timeless dance, to lay their tiny white eggs under milkweed leaf. Also, being one who believes that the Land has memory and retains knowledge, I can’t help but wonder what the meadow must think as the monarchs pass. I’m sure it is the passing of one more bit of golden-red-and black glory, of joy and wonder, from our world, not unlike the fairies passing into the otherworld. I also have to wonder if the meadow will miss us when we, too, pass on. Will we have left the lasting, wonderful impression, in our brief time, that the magical monarchs have bequeathed to the earth in their untold generations? Let us hope that the memories that we leave to the fields and meadow, to the forests, hills and streams, are not as those who poisoned and destroyed this wonderful world.
Have a happy, safe summer – “Ranger” Dave Holden / 845-594-4863, woodstocktrails@gmail.com / Dave Holden on Facebook / rangerdaveholden on Instagram / woodstocknytrails.com.
Join the family! 
