The Royal Monarch Butterflies

The Royal Monarchs!

First, some background: Somehow when we met, each having found our own other half, also found that we both like to wander a bit on weekends. We've started out for Napa and ended up in Mendocino as a result of these little "Adventures", as we like to call them, but all in all, we have a wondrous time. Due to our both being sick at different intervals and the holidays, however, we were unable to do these little adventures for a couple of months. Today, we finally got to go on an adventure again! What fun indeed!

One of the first Adventures that Brian and I drove was south on Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway), through the little towns that make up the bit between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. Brian went to college at UC Santa Cruz and still knows the layout of the town like the back of his hand. On this first drive through Santa Cruz, Brian made a right on a side street. (Sorry, I'm the one geographically impaired in the family-- you'll have to ask Brian the name of the street-- the only thing I can tell you is that it is marked with a brown "Natural Bridges State Park" sign.) We went down the residential street which includes an elementary school and, suddenly in front of you, the ocean is on the other side of the cross street in front of you! Another right turn and we're in Natural Bridges State Park.

That seems like a weird name, doesn't it? Allow me to digress for a moment and I'll tell you how it got its name. After the Mexican-American war, California became a territory of the U.S. and, as settlers moved into California, the area that is now the State Park, changed hands several times: at one time, it was occupied by a dairy farm and a South Seas movie set; the State of California acquired the property in 1933 and in 1954, visitor facilities began construction. It seems that, in the 1800s when people first came to the Santa Cruz coastline, they found there were three connected arches carved out of sandstone cliffs which inspired the name. Around 1900, the same waves that formed the arches, took out the farthest arch and in 1980, a storm brought downthe inner arch. Only the middle bridge remains but it is slowly being eroded by the waves, even as you read this post.

Photo #1
As we drove up the road that you see in the left side of that picture, we couldn't help but notice the feral cats that were "stationed" there, as if to guard the entrance. Brian took this picture after we had parked the car and as he walked closer, they began to leave but you still see most of them! By the time we left the park, they were no where to be found! Photo #2
We went down the path to the eucalyptus grove and Brian found the bunch of Monarch butterflies overhead as we walked into the grove. When you look at the full size photo, you'll see what looks like brown leaves on the tree but, those are in fact the butterflies clinging together for warmth. On warmer days, the colors are bright and more easily visible.

Photo #3
Just off the beaten path of the nature trail, Brian found these two butterflies trying to figure out how to get back up to the "clump" of butterflies that they fell from, just above them. Photo #4

We watched them for several minutes as they flitted around the stick they were on-- perhaps it is Milkweed, the only plant Monarch caterpillar eats.

Photo #5
This Photo and Photo #6 are the same however, as you can see, there is a bit closer zoom on #6. The coloring on these Monarchs are beautiful in person but the Olympus digital camera we have does them a service as well. Photo #6
Again, closer on Photo #5. At the visitor's center, there's a "patch" of milkweed. There were some aphids on the stems of the milkweed that are the same color as the Monarch butterflies and, considering they're all eating from the same weed...

Photo #7
This photo is on Brian's "Field Report" as well but, since its the clump from which the above Monarchs fell from, I thought you'd like to see it again. Photo #8
At one point, Brian reached out and touched the plant and both Monarchs gladly crawled onto his hand. They are lethargic this time of year but, fascinating in their natural state.

Photo #9
Brian passed them to me and, at first I was scared because I was unsure of how fragile they were or, as it turned out, not. Their feet like suction cups on my skin-- interesting, needless to say!
[And my nails? Well, for those of you in the Bay Area, my friend, Linda, is the talent behind them-- Highly Recommended!]

Photo #10
This is the last photo because I think the detail on it is the best. The Olympus caught the fluttering of the butterfly's wings!
Today there were 10,000 of the Monarch butterflies in the park-- the ranger at the gate referred to them as "Our Monarchs". There can be as many as 150,000 in the park.
That would truly be a regal, yet simplistic beauty to behold!

The day was wonderful and the drive, scenic as ever-- I love driving the the Santa Cruz mountains near the redwood trees. Lexington Reservoir is WAY down (almost empty!) but we don't know why. We mentioned checking the local newspaper but, became distracted with the photos.

Ah, the joys of living in Northern California . . .

Current Musings

Photo #1 As we drove up the road that you see in the left side of that picture, we couldn't help but notice the feral cats that were "stationed" there, as if to guard the entrance. Brian took this picture after we had parked the car and as he walked closer, they began to leave but you still see most of them! By the time we left the park, they were no where to be found!	Photo #2 We went down the path to the eucalyptus grove and Brian found the bunch of Monarch butterflies overhead as we walked into the grove. When you look at the full size photo, you'll see what looks like brown leaves on the tree but, those are in fact the butterflies clinging together for warmth. On warmer days, the colors are bright and more easily visible.
Photo #3 Just off the beaten path of the nature trail, Brian found these two butterflies trying to figure out how to get back up to the "clump" of butterflies that they fell from, just above them.	Photo #4 We watched them for several minutes as they flitted around the stick they were on-- perhaps it is Milkweed, the only plant Monarch caterpillar eats.
Photo #5 This Photo and Photo #6 are the same however, as you can see, there is a bit closer zoom on #6. The coloring on these Monarchs are beautiful in person but the Olympus digital camera we have does them a service as well.	Photo #6 Again, closer on Photo #5. At the visitor's center, there's a "patch" of milkweed. There were some aphids on the stems of the milkweed that are the same color as the Monarch butterflies and, considering they're all eating from the same weed...
Photo #7 This photo is on Brian's "Field Report" as well but, since its the clump from which the above Monarchs fell from, I thought you'd like to see it again.	Photo #8 At one point, Brian reached out and touched the plant and both Monarchs gladly crawled onto his hand. They are lethargic this time of year but, fascinating in their natural state.
Photo #9 Brian passed them to me and, at first I was scared because I was unsure of how fragile they were or, as it turned out, not. Their feet like suction cups on my skin-- interesting, needless to say! [And my nails? Well, for those of you in the Bay Area, my friend, Linda, is the talent behind them-- *Highly* Recommended!]	Photo #10 This is the last photo because I think the detail on it is the best. The Olympus caught the fluttering of the butterfly's wings! Today there were 10,000 of the Monarch butterflies in the park-- the ranger at the gate referred to them as "Our Monarchs". There can be as many as 150,000 in the park. That would truly be a regal, yet simplistic beauty to behold!