Yesterday was a slow day. It was overcast and cooler than it has been. I was happy to have my mom join us on the trail! We walked and chatted and looked for critters. She loves the woods and the birds and animals as much as I do and it’s a joy to share any experience with her!
It was after 10am by the time we got down into the valley. The early morning bird activity had slowed and the park was busy with little kids’ camps, people walking their dogs and folks getting a workout on the steps near the Rocky River Nature Center. We parked just east of the center parking lot and stopped to checkout a marshy area I know. I was hoping to spot a beaver, but the only inhabitant was a great blue heron. I see these guys everywhere, but I never tire of them. I love the way they stand so still and so regally in the water and strike so quickly to snap up fish.
We left the marsh and hiked over to the nature center area. Milkweed and other flowers were blooming along the trail and we saw quite a few eastern tiger swallowtails. Their yellow wings are spectacular! Like all butterflies, they are important pollinators. In fact, there are some plants, like flame azaleas, that are designed in such a way that small pollinators (i.e. bees) are not able to effectively pollinate them. Only large butterflies with their broad wings can settle on these flowers and transfer pollen from the anther to style. I love to learn about the various things we find in the woods. Everything always has a place and a purpose.
