One of my favorite things about fall is the butterfly migration that passes through Texas on its way to Mexico for the winter. I love butterflies. They are so delicate and colorful. They make me think of fairy tales. In fact, my next book release features a Texas reimagining of Snow White and has a scene that incorporates migrating monarchs.
I can remember years past when we had to slow our car to a crawl driving out to our country church to make sure we didn’t injure any of the butterflies in the cloud hovering above the road. Walking among them truly felt like stepping into a fairy paradise.
In more recent times, the butterflies have not swarmed to the same degree. I don’t know if their path changed slightly so that we are only getting the edges of the pack flying through our town or if there are fewer butterflies making the trip. Even in smaller numbers, though, they are a joy to behold.
I work at Abilene Christian University, and our Agriculture department works with our grounds crew to ensure we cultivate landscape that attracts these butterflies. As I was passing the library last week, I just had to stop and admire the view. I took this short video:
One of my favorite bookmarks to this day is the one I picked up years ago on a trip my husband and I took with our adult chorus to Vienna. We had a little free time one day and we found the Butterfly House downtown. It was filled with butterflies of all colors and varieties. We walked among them, marveling at the delicate creatures as they fluttered about their glass home.
My souvenir of choice was a bookmark purchased in the Schetterling Haus gift shop. I still use it regularly, though I do my best to treat it with care in order to preserve it’s life.
What are some of your favorite things that the start of autumn brings?
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We have lots of butterflies in our yard, but nothing like a migration! That’s amazing! Thanks for sharing that video. They are truly amazing creatures.
They never fail to make me smile. I believe some of God’s creation were made strictly to bring his people joy and a sense of wonder. Butterflies do that for me . . . every time.
I’d heard that the monarch butterflies are now endangered, which makes me so sad. We usually get quite a few of them up here in MN, but I only saw 2 that I knew weren’t viceroys. Even the tiny yellow and white ones were rare this year. I hope their numbers come back soon. That butterfly house looks amazing.
Kari – Yes, that house was wonderful. It was very hot and humid inside to mimic the more tropical climes of many of the species, but it was like stepping into a wonderland. 🙂
Loved this post. Idaho is not on the migration map. While we have monarchs here, they go to the coast. They avoid the Rocky Mountains on their way. If others are interested, here is a map of their migrations, both south and north:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/Monarch_Butterfly/migration/index.shtml
Fascinating. Thanks!
That’s a great map, Robin! Thank you for sharing the link. Abilene is almost in the center of Texas, so we are blessed to be in the path of many of the monarchs.
I adore butterflies. ♥️ Sometimes if we are lucky enough we get to see a huge circle flying by made up by butterflies. 🦋 And truly it is a sight to cherish. For fall, I love and enjoy the beauty of the colors. They seem bright and tranquil. And the cooler breeze makes for a day of stunning beauty, with leaves falling 🍁 or dancing side to side as the wind goes by.
Keren – Seeing thick clusters of butterflies like you are describing never fails to steal my breath. Seeing one is amazing in itself, but seeing them in thick groupings transports me to another realm.
I’m glad for the reminder that the monarch season is here! I’ll be sure head to our local community garden that’s been designated a monarch “way station”. Magical!
I love that you have places designated that way, Becky. Both for people to enjoy and for the butterflies to refresh themselves on this long, arduous journey.
What great information! I love the video!
The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Museum is in Virginia Beach, our home since 1975. I have watched it form and expand to now include a walk over marshlands to a river otter exhibit. There is also a large, clear, tent-like structure to walk through that has plants, birds and butterfies. Wildlife is so interesting.
Thanks for this post!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the video, Betty. I could have stood there for hours just watching and absorbing their beauty.
My husband loves aquariums. Yours sounds wonderful. River otters are such fun creatures to watch. I bet that exhibit is a crowd favorite. 🙂
The cool crisp air and the leaves changing colors. I live in Tennessee in the foothills of the Smokies. The ridge line by our house is so gorgeous and we are about to see it for the first time in autumn since we moved here. I can only imagine how amazing the trees will look in another week. I love living here!!
Growing up in California and then moving to West Texas, I’ve never really lived in a place where the fall colors were on full display. I bet your area is breathtaking! I think Fall would be my favorite season of the year if I lived among such a riot of color. 🙂
I was just thinking that I HAVEN’T been seeing monarchs like I had in August and September; my blazing star and then zinnias were covered with them (I counted a dozen at once on one blazing star plant alone). But since I’m in Minnesota, it would make sense that they’ve taken off your way!
Thank you for sharing them with those of us down south, Rachael. 🙂
How fascinating to be in their migration path! I live near the Great Lakes and had several visit my zinnias earlier this fall. Have you seen the artwork Joni Eareckson Tada created this year? It features monarch butterflies! You can see it here
https://www.joniandfriends.org/product/new-life-art-print-3/
I love the cool, crisp air in the evenings when autumn arrives and also the many delicious varieties of apples to enjoy. (And pumpkins, squash, soups, sweatshirts, hot cider, etc.) It’s my favorite season.
Thank you for sharing your video!
Wonderful artwork, Jennifer. Thank you for sharing. I do love the flavors of fall, too. 🙂
Hi Karen,
I love this time of year, and one of the reasons is due to the all the flying creatures in our yard. Right now, we have butterflies, dragonflies and hummingbirds. My daughter-in-law was here dogsitting last week and said the yard looked like a paradise. She said one day our golden retriever was basking in the sun surrounded by at least 30 monarchs! Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to get a picture.
What a glorious sight that must have been, Marilyn! Love those special moments. 🙂
That’s so neat that you get to experience seeing the Monarch butterflies in migration! It’s fascinating to me to imagine them making such a long journey every year!
Have you ever seen the Imax film “Flight of the Butterflies”? I saw it in Branson several years ago with my mom & grandma. To be honest, before we watched it, I thought it was gonna be totally boring. You know, Imax films are usually pretty dramatic with lots of action, so I was thinking, “Butterflies? How undramatic is that?” Well, it ended up being the most favorite Imax film I’d ever seen!It was incredible, as I’d never known most of the details behind their migration. I wanted my family to see it, but it never returned to Branson, so I followed the film online & ordered the DVD when it finally became available. 🙂 It’s not quite the experience of the big screen, but still neat to watch. God’s creation is so wonderful & we get to enjoy it!
I love Fall… the crisp coolness in the air, the colors, & the break from the heat & humidity that is a Missouri summer! One of my favorite things to do in the fall is go to the Harvest Festival at Silver Dollar City in Branson. It’s one of my happy places. 🙂
That must be a sight to behold, all those butterflies flying together. I live in Mississippi so I’m always thankful and looking forward to cooler weather.