Monarch Migration

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?