Here is a beautiful variety of the wonderful scenes Madison Indiana has to offer in the early spring. The Broadway Fountain, Lanier Mansion and the River walk all offer a spectacular place to enjoy what nature has to offer us in early April.
If you are looking for a place for a weekend or longer trip, try Madison it is truly an amazing destination to visit !!
Finally got to see the Monarchs migrating thru the Madison Indiana area over this past weekend. I think there may still be a few feeding and resting at King’s Daughters Health, where I have captured so many, but I kinda threw my back out Monday and can’t get out to see. So for me it’s over for the year.
What I witnessed was definitely an incredible site, I captured over eight hundred images of them feeding and resting in the beautiful fall wildflowers that cover the fields that surround our Hospital. Every step I took I would flush out two or three butterflies and send them flying into the afternoon sky. Many times I would look up over the goldenrod that covers the grounds and watch them dancing and chasing each other above the forest of wildflowers in search of their next drink of nectar.
It really is amazing that these wonderful little winged gems used our grounds as a way station for their long trip to Mexico. Even though I witnessed hundreds of Monarchs probably less than 5% of them will make it to the mountains where they overwinter. And that is why we must help them with good conservation practices along their journey south.
Milkweed is the key, years ago it was all along our county roads and highways as well as hay fields and ditches. But now these areas get mowed way more frequently then in the past and it is probably the number one reason for their decline. Many other factors play a roll as well but habitat destruction is the one that can be solved quickly and help get them back on their feet or wings actually.
So if you have a lot of land let some of it go back to nature and instead of planting all those store bought flowers try putting out native wildflowers. Especially milkweed not only will you be helping out the Monarchs but many other butterflies and bee’s will be helped as well.
There is nothing more beautiful than warm summer evening light, especially when it bathes the Monarchs and the wildflowers that they love to nectar on this time of the year . The butterflies are winding down now here in Madison Indiana but the Monarchs are just gearing up for their incredible journey south.
It’s hard to believe that these delicate translucent wings will carry some of these little miracles of nature three thousand miles to the mountains of central Mexico from the fields of Southern Indiana. It is truly amazing that these monarchs know the way to the overwintering sites even though this migrating generation has never before been to Mexico.
Soon the Goldenrod will bloom and help nourish them for their long epic flight back to the mountains of Mexico.
Hope you enjoy my images of butterflies especially the Monarch and hopefully we can help conserve this beauitufl species !!
I have seen so many butterflies this year I don’t even know where to begin. We have such a rich diversity of nature here in the Madison area and butterflies are a big part of it.
It’s not hard to come across these flying little gems, with all the public land and the many gardens that we have in this area it’s no wonder I have been able to locate and photograph so many varieties.
So now after getting back into this blogging thing a bit I will start sharing some of the many beautiful images of these great little miracles of nature !!
Not only are the great wildflowers that grow thru out are natural area in bloom but the wonderful trees and flowers that line the streets and historic homes in Madison Indiana are starting to put on a show as well.
Madison has an amazing riverfront lined with many blooming trees especially the lovely cherry trees donated by Arvin Sango. The Lanier Mansion has wonderful blooming trees as well and other flowers that are now beginning to bloom.
So if you are looking for a weekend getaway to get outdoors and see some beautiful scenery give Madison a visit you won’t be disappointed.
Bernie Kasper Photography 