This is about the humble milkweed, or, if you please,
about the plight of the butterfly. The Monarch butterfly, to be specific.
It was one of the
joys of my childhood to see the distinctive butterflies, with wingspans of
almost four inches and orange and black patterns decorating their wings. Or I'd
see the yellow, white and black striped caterpillars eating milkweed leaves.
And then the lime-green cocoons.
What I didn't see was
the mysterious flight of thousands of miles to Mexico. It's the Methuselah
generation of Monarchs that goes - it
lives some nine months, instead of just four weeks. They winter there, grouped
together in huge colonies. In my childhood, they'd appear in Canada again in
spring. It takes them four generations to make the trip back to Canada.
Once here they look
for milkweed plants. That's where they lay their eggs. That's what they eat as
caterpillars, and that's what protects them from predators. It seems they
ingest contains poisonous glycosides from the milkweed. It makes them taste so
bad that nobody wants to eat them, either in their caterpillar or their
butterfly incarnations.
But the Monarch
butterflies are struggling, even if not officially declared endangered. What is
endangered is the migration - and that affects our population of Monarchs in
Canada. In 1997, the Monarch Survey in Mexico found 18.19 hectares occupied by
butterfly colonies. In 2012, they covered only 1.12 hectares. In December 2013,
even less, just 0.6 hectares. That's down 44 per cent in one year.
Is that because we
have done such a good job of controlling our weeds, and with them, milkweeds?
Another of my childhood joys was playing with the milkweed seedpods, and the
little seeds, airborne on their fluffy hair. It's been awhile since I've seen
much of that.
Other culprits for
the Monarch migration collapse have been fingered. Global warming with extreme
climate fluctuations. Deforestation in Mexico. But experts agree milkweed
scarcity is a problem. There's a whole movement in southern Canada to jumpstart
a comeback of the humble milkweed, and give the Monarch migration a new
foothold.
I've received a
stream of emails this summer offering to sell me milkweed seeds to plant, to
help revive the milkweed population, and with it, the Monarch butterfly population.
But, I thought, rather than buying seeds, why not salvage them from milkweed
plants in my neighbourhood?
So I began stalking
milkweed. I found some, yes, here and there, usually along roadsides. Some of
them have already been mowed down. We do such a good job, don't we, of mowing
down the vegetation along our roads?
I wonder if our
municipalities would participate in saving the humble milkweed, and bringing
back the Monarch butterflies? Can we somehow stop mowing down the milkweed
plants?
Of special note to
farmers: Monarchs play a role in pollinating plants. Some of them are plants
that people rely on for food. Such our current wonder crop, corn. Let's not cut
down the milkweed we depend on.
WALKING IN NEWPORT
The Loisirs 4 Horizons recreation committee has organized a walking
activity in various areas of Newport - Island Brook, Randboro,
Saint-Mathias-de-Bonneterre and Lawrence. It's good for the body, and good for
the soul, too. The idea is to immerse yourself in nature, and explore some
picturesque or historical areas that are off the beaten track. And to do this
in a small group of friendly folks.
The group meets
every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. during the summer, usually in the parking
lot of the Municipal Hall in Island Brook, at 1452 Route 212. Special outings
are announced on the group's Facebook page, Facebook.com/loisirs4horizons, or
by email from Francine Rouleau, rouleauf@live.ca.
SOFTBALL IN NEWPORT
Loisirs 4 Horizons
has also organized friendly softball games every Sunday afternoon at the ball
park in Island Brook, 1452 Route 212. Children and adults, players of all ages
and all levels are welcome. Gloves are welcome. Cheerleaders are welcome. It's
fun for all. The game begins at 1:30 p.m. Info: Melissa or Martin Tétreault at
819-889-1082.
MEALS IN BURY
Meals on Wheels is
up and rolling again in Bury. Julie Gervais is offering it from the restaurant
at the Pen-y-Bryn Golf Club. It's a service
arranged by the Centre d'action bénévole (Volunteer Action Centre). For
$7.50 total, you get a hot meal, complete with soup and dessert delivered to
your door every Tuesday. If you or someone you
know might be interested, please contact Rachel Garber at the CAB, at
819-560-8540 option 9 to register.
TALE
A Tale of the
Townships. If you like stories, you'll love the Eaton Corner Museum's new
permanent exhibition. It's called A Tale of the Townships, and it is open
Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., until mid-October. Entrance is $8 for
adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for children (maximum $20 per family). Info:
819-875-5256, or visit www.eatoncorner.ca.
CHURCH SERVICES
Anglican: The four Anglican congregations in the
Haut-Saint-François meet at 10:30 a.m. in a different church each Sunday. On
the first Sunday of the month, services are at St. Peter's in Cookshire. Second
Sundays are at St. John's in Brookbury. Third Sundays are at St. Paul's in
Bury. Fourth Sundays are at Christ Church in Canterbury (819-239-6902).
Baptist: In Sawyerville, the worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in
English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. The bi-weekly and
bilingual Children's Community Club meets
on Saturday August 16 and 30, and September 13 and 27, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., at
the church, 33 Cookshire St. (819-239-8818).
United: Sunday service and Sunday school are at Sawyerville
United on August 17; at Cookshire United on August 24; and at East Clifton
United on August 31. All services are at 10:30 a.m. Info: 819-889-2838.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email ra.writes@gmail.com by
August 18 for publication August 27 and by September 2 for September 10.
