The walk in the Pine Bush on May 26 hosted by John Wolcott
and Mark Plaat found no butterflies, and blue lupine just
beginning to flower. The walk led by Lynne Jackson and Daniel
Van Riper on June 2, however, saw the lupine in full bloom
and the first butterflies scattered here and there.
Some two dozen enthusiasts, many armed with high powered cameras,
marched up and down the dunes demanding that the little beggars
come out of the brush and pose for photographers. Not known
as early risers, they showed themselves late in the walk around
noon, when the day was hottest. The ones seen were stunningly
bright, almost purple in color, much like the lupine flowers.
Since their wings fade and become frayed around the edges
as they get older, these were apparently no more than a day
old. As always, they fluttered around the humans and posed
for pictures. They should still be out when this newsletter
arrives, so get out there and see them while you can.
At the end of the June 2 walk, a group of 10 people from Cornell
University in Ithaca arrived to observe the butterflies. They
were led by Robert Dirig, Asst. Curator of the Bailey Hortorium
at Cornell, a lepidopterist who has long been interested in
the Pine Bush and the Karner Blue. We hope there will always
be a Pine Bush for people from everywhere to enjoy.
