Monarchs are in Mexico sipping margaritas ‘til March.  #Wordless Wednesday  #Monarch Butterfly sipping nectar at the Goodwill Garden at Heritage Park.

Posted on January 18, 2023 by Linda Schaub

Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

About Linda Schaub

This is my first blog and I enjoy writing each and every post immensely. I started a walking regimen in 2011 and decided to create a blog as a means of memorializing the people, places and things I see on my daily walks. I have always enjoyed people watching, and so my blog is peppered with folks I meet, or reflections of characters I have known through the years. Often something piques my interest, or evokes a pleasant memory from my memory bank, so this becomes a “slice o’ life” blog post that day. I respect and appreciate nature and my interaction with Mother Nature’s gifts is also a common theme. Sometimes the most-ordinary items become fodder for points to ponder over and touch upon. My career has been in the legal field and I have been a legal secretary for four decades, primarily working in downtown Detroit, and now working from my home. I graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in print journalism in 1978, though I’ve never worked in that field. I like to think this blog is the writer in me finally emerging!! Walking and writing have met and shaken hands and the creative juices are flowing once again in Walkin’, Writin’, Wit & Whimsy – hope you think so too. - Linda Schaub
This entry was posted in #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, nature and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

55 Responses to Monarchs are in Mexico sipping margaritas ‘til March.  #Wordless Wednesday  #Monarch Butterfly sipping nectar at the Goodwill Garden at Heritage Park.

  1. Barbara Rodgers says:
    January 18, 2023 at 6:30 am

    Lovely pictures! Soon they will return, one of the nicest things about summer. ☀️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 18, 2023 at 9:08 pm

      Thanks Barbara! I agree with you. On this day I went to the Botanical Gardens at Heritage Park – – no butterflies. Went to the Community Gardens where people rent plots of land to grow veggies and flowers and there was this beautiful Monarch butterfly.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. peggy says:
    January 18, 2023 at 6:54 am

    Ha – are you sure thosr monarchs drink? Funny.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 18, 2023 at 9:15 pm

      Glad to give you a smile Peggy. I think they spend six months in Mexico so they might be doing that. 🙂 Have you ever seen the photos of all the Monarchs grouped together on a tree until they leave in March? It’s absolutely beautiful to see them all clinging together, then when it’s time to leave, they go in stages, so they don’t fly into one another as there are so many of them.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • peggy says:
        January 19, 2023 at 6:06 am

        Yes, I have watched programs on PBS where Monarchs group together in Mexico. It is magnificent.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        January 19, 2023 at 7:24 pm

        I’ve never seen a TV show about it, but would love to see that. The article I read was a woman tourist visiting and I guess the area is quite rigorous and not easy to get to, but she was determined to see it, so she did and got beautiful photos. She described the slow departure in stages. I would have thought they all left at once. I am watching “All Creatures Great & Small” on PBS and really like it. I read most of the books when I was younger and still have one or two paperbacks I bought later that I’ve not read yet. I am trying to make an effort to read again. I was an avid reader, then rode with someone to work after years of riding the bus to work. Now with walking/blogging/working from home (11 years for that), I never get to read. How are your eyes doing Peggy?

        Liked by 1 person

      • peggy says:
        January 20, 2023 at 8:55 am

        I use to love to read. My right eye – that is my only eye needs a cataract off of it. I went to see a doctor and he said I could wait to have it off – going back in August. I wear magnifying glasses to read or do internet. I am always griping I can’t see things my husband and daughter can see. My left eye is gone. Have no depth preseption. Stoppped driving a year ago. Hated to give up driving, but that is life.

        Like

      • Linda Schaub says:
        January 20, 2023 at 7:20 pm

        You have a good attitude about your eye problems as tough as it is. I know it must be difficult after having good eyesight for so many years.

        Liked by 1 person

      • peggy says:
        January 21, 2023 at 5:44 am

        Thanks Linda. Never thought my eyesight would be a problem. A person can live with infirmities or get depressed and just sit down and quit. I chose to do the best I can with losing one eye. I have faith that God will help me through whatever happens.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        January 21, 2023 at 8:15 pm

        I admire you Peggy – yes, God will help you persevere through whatever happens.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Kate Crimmins says:
    January 18, 2023 at 8:55 am

    I’d sure like to join them for a margarita.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. Laurie says:
    January 18, 2023 at 9:23 am

    Beautiful photos! A trip to see the Monarchs sipping margaritas in Mexico is on my bucket list. I might even sip a margarita myself!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 18, 2023 at 9:19 pm

      Sounds like a plan Laurie. I read an article once about how all the Monarchs cluster together by the hundreds on trees, basking in the sunshine – it was an amazing sight to see in the article, let alone in person. I hope you get there to see it for yourself!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. Rebecca says:
    January 18, 2023 at 9:31 am

    So beautiful! It won’t be too long before they return.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Ally Bean says:
    January 18, 2023 at 9:57 am

    Nice to see a spot or two of color during the muted days of winter.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. trumstravels says:
    January 18, 2023 at 10:39 am

    Beautiful photos Linda ! I wish I were a Monarch lol. So cold here !

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. Terri Webster Schrandt says:
    January 18, 2023 at 12:16 pm

    Gorgeous shots, Linda! I think they are partying in Mexico with the hummingbirds that migrate south, too! I hope they are enjoying their mocktails, and I can’t wait to greet them this Spring!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 18, 2023 at 9:28 pm

      Thanks Terri! Yes the snowbird beauties have got it good down in Mexico. Here in our state, the local nature sites begin tracking the progress of both the Monarchs and hummingbirds around April – we are later than you. I always think Spring when I hear the first Red-Winged Blackbird’s call in March.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Terri Webster Schrandt says:
        January 18, 2023 at 10:26 pm

        Spokane area expects hummers by mid April. They may take a slow ride back if our spring is delayed. I’ll be happy to see grass by March.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        January 19, 2023 at 7:20 pm

        We’ve had years like that where we had snow in early December and never saw grass until March. I am Canadian and in Oakville, we used to live right on the curve of our neighborhood cul de sac and we’d have some fierce blizzards and winds would make that snow drift. My father’s VW Beetle would be totally covered with snow in the morning, looking like an igloo. The last weather forecast, the meteorologist said we’d have a sizable amount of snow, 1-3 inches on Sunday. Not that I want snow, but I’m wondering when 1-3 inches of snow was considered sizeable?

        Liked by 1 person

      • Terri Webster Schrandt says:
        January 19, 2023 at 8:31 pm

        1-3 inches sizable snow–that is rich! Great question, Linda! Who knows how long our winter will last this year? It definitely started early and shut down Autumn pretty early. Oh well, here and in the PNW, they say if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        January 20, 2023 at 6:57 pm

        I wondered about predicting 1-3 inches as sizable snow too Terri. Not that I want snow. I follow several meteorologists on Twitter and people are complaining about no snow. We had 1.5 inches of rain yesterday – the weather folks say that would be equivalent to 11-12 inches … now that is some sizable snow! They say that expression here too and I thought it was unique to Michigan where you could start the day turning on the heat and finish it turning on the A/C.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Joni says:
    January 18, 2023 at 3:23 pm

    Love the title and the pictures!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 18, 2023 at 9:36 pm

      Thanks Joni – seeing a Monarch is such a treat. I walked around the Botanical Gardens that day, hoping to see one, then left and at the Community Garden, there was this one flitting around in someone’s flower garden.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. ruthsoaper says:
    January 19, 2023 at 7:05 pm

    A few years ago in the fall we witness part of the migration south when the field next to our property was full of goldenrod and one day hundreds or maybe thousands of monarchs were fliting and fluttering around it and sipping from the goldenrod. It was an amazing sight, but I have no pictures. The field has since been sold and the new owner cut down all the goldenrod so we will never see that again.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 19, 2023 at 7:40 pm

      That must have been just amazing to see Ruth. I remember you telling me about your goldenrod when I posted some pictures of the goldenrod near the windmill in River Rouge – we both agreed it is very pretty. People think it is ragweed and therefore don’t like it due to allergies. I saw a group of Monarchs, maybe a dozen, nothing like what you saw, one day when I was at Council Point Park. It was a chilly Fall morning. They flitted right by me in a row and went to tree or bush. I tried taking photos, but they left again a few minutes later, but were traveling together. It happened pretty quickly. A park near my house has a volunteer garden of perennials and milkweed to encourage the Monarchs. But I see the Monarchs and Swallowtails favoring Lantana – someone plants orange Lantana there every year. They seem to like it a lot.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. singlikewildflowers says:
    January 19, 2023 at 10:36 pm

    These are gorgeous photos with great details!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog says:
    January 20, 2023 at 3:38 am

    Great Monarch pics, Linda! There are less of them in our area these days (including less of most of the other species of butterflies). Years ago, in my yard, amiable butterflies used to land on my fingertips. Now most are just not around. Let’s enjoy them while we can. Greta Thunberg has been right.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 20, 2023 at 7:01 pm

      Thank you Tom – I love seeing butterflies too and would have loved to have one land on my fingertips. I had one land on my shoulder at the Park a few years ago. Another walker saw it and offered to take a photo if I I wanted to. I thanked her and said “it’ll fly off in a minute” but it didn’t – it stayed on there a good half hour! Yes Greta Thunberg was right – it’s sad.

      Like

      Reply
  14. Shelley@QuaintRevival.com says:
    January 20, 2023 at 6:14 am

    Beautiful captures! I especially love the composition and bokeh in the last photo, WOW! Nice job, Linda!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 20, 2023 at 7:16 pm

      Thank you Shelley! Glad you liked them! I was walking around the Botanical Gardens looking for butterflies or hummingbirds – it was a very hot September day. There were none. Walking back to my car, I passed the Community Gardens where people rent plots to grow flowers or veggies and the work detail for the court grow food for Fish & Loaves; there was this beautiful Monarch in the garden. My lucky day!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. indianeskitchen says:
    January 20, 2023 at 4:48 pm

    I wish I was a butterfly! Lol Beautiful pictures Linda. 💕

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. Hugh W. Roberts says:
    January 21, 2023 at 7:16 am

    Just beautiful details on the wings of that butterfly, Linda. I’m pleased to say that we saw many more butterflies last summer than we did the previous two summers.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  18. notesoflifeuk says:
    January 21, 2023 at 12:18 pm

    Wow, such amazing photos! Such a joy to see as we’re in the middle of winter here in Wales.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 21, 2023 at 8:28 pm

      Thank you notesoflifuk! Unfortunately, we are in the middle of winter here in Michigan as well (though it has been a wonderful and near-snowless winter season so far, but snow is around the corner). I am always behind in sorting through my photos as I take so many in the warm weather. This beautiful Monarch was at a garden back on September 17th. I thought a little color would be nice to see after all our gray days and boring landscape.

      Like

      Reply
  19. Amorina Rose says:
    January 22, 2023 at 3:11 am

    Love the use of language and of course the images.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 22, 2023 at 8:29 pm

      Thank you Barbara. I am having a lot of fun with Wordless Wednesday. In March it will be three years since I started doing this feature … right after the pandemic began, so I can’t forget when I started. It gives me a chance to pare some of the photos from my too-long blog posts and do something fun with them. I am glad you enjoyed this one. What a beautiful creature and I walked around the Botanical Gardens on a very hot September day hoping to see a butterfly, saw none, then walked to my car past the Community Gardens where people buy plots to plant flowers and vegetables and the court-ordered work detail has gardens they grow for the food banks and there was this gorgeous butterfly, just waiting for me. 🙂

      Like

      Reply

  20. Pingback: Monarchs are in Mexico sipping margaritas ‘til March.  #Wordless Wednesday  #Monarch Butterfly sipping nectar at the Goodwill Garden at Heritage Park. – MobsterTiger

  21. Janis @ RetirementallyChallenged.com says:
    January 23, 2023 at 1:16 pm

    Beautiful! I’ve always wanted to see those “butterfly trees” in Mexico… that must be an amazing sight.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 23, 2023 at 8:41 pm

      Me too Janis. If/when you return to Mexico you will have to see that location where they go. I read an article that it is a rigorous area for hiking, but well worth the trouble to see the “butterfly trees” or watch them lift off and leave the trees in stages

      Like

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s