The End of the Season

Return to Monteagle, And a Joyous Discovery!

      After too long away, Rick returned this week, expecting that the butterflies had almost certainly moved on, or were hidden and hunkering down for winter. Yet, flowers were still blooming, and there were still friends flying in: a no-tailed, long tailed skipper; a clouded skipper; and, in an evergreen up the hill, a little yellow. This struck us as slightly incredible, but nothing matched what was to follow. Rick was showing our friend Susie, down from North Carolina with her husband John, where the last, dead chrysalis was hanging, when she said, "Oh, I see it right there!" "No, it's over here somewhere," he said, poking through the still thick foliage. When he looked where she was pointing, he saw an empty chrysalis, transparent and delightful. Stephanie arrived at that moment, and declared this was a NEW ONE,  evidence of a previously undiscovered birth!

      There had been a fourth Monarch born!

       A couple days later, the first of several nights of frost commenced on the mountain, so perhaps that really was the last, but what a finish to an incredible season! It was a season that brought joy and community and discovery and shared delights beyond anticipation and expectation. And Stephanie became a budding nature photographer -- wait until she learns ALL the buttons!
        We still have a few things to add to this website. We want to bring up to date the page documenting all the species that visited the garden this year. That has a way to go, but check back in a little bit for the final tally.  Here is the link, or click the heading at upper right on this page.

Visitors to the Garden Page

       Stephanie will also, at some point over the winter, share lessons learned about the garden, what worked, what didn't, and what to expect for next year (Hint: More host plants!)
       But for now, that's mostly it, and thank you all for sharing this wonderful experience, this celebration of nature, with us.
        Rick and Stephanie