A flash of orange, winged spots of yellow, and a flutter of blue light up the meadow. The butterflies of summer are beginning to brighten our days! To glimpse these "dancing flowers," join husband and wife team, Barbara Volkle and Stephen Moore, president of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club, on a WCLT family hike on Sunday, June 12 at 1:30 p.m. You may spot Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Viceroys, Monarch, Long-Dash Skipper or Appalachian Brown butterflies. Bring repellant, and close-focusing binoculars are helpful. Meet at the Mass Wildlife parking lot, at the top of North Drive, off rt.135. www.events@westboroughlandtrust.org.
Stephen Moore, president of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club, has spent more than three decades on explorations with his wife Barbara to track not only all the butterflies but also bird species in North America. These naturalists have traveled as far as the Arctic to catch sight of rare species and add to their life lists. It wasn't until 2001, however, when they joined the Mass. Butterfly Club, that they turned their focus on the 720 species of butterflies in North America. To date, Moore has spotted 500 different butterflies. He, Volkle and other members of the MBC are happy to share their enthusiasm and knowledge about butterflies. Through their walks and talks, they hope to promote the preservation of meadows and butterfly gardens, habitats that provide butterflies with the plants they need for home and food. For more information about the Massachusetts Butterfly Club, visit www.massbutterflies.org.
