I know just what you’re thinking. You are looking at this blog post title and scratching your head. Where is Linda taking us today? Will this post be yet another melding of culture and nature?
Well, you know how sometimes blog fodder falls right into your lap? You really didn’t go looking for it and this was one such occasion.
My sole reason for strolling over to Memorial Park on Saturday, July 22nd was to photograph Swallowtail and Monarch butterflies. The past few years I’ve gotten some up-close and vibrant photos of the Monarchs converging on the orange Lantana and the Swallowtails posing perfectly on purple Coneflowers.
You know I cram a lot of walking and photo-taking at larger parks on the weekend, so I was already a little weary after almost four hours of walking at Lake Erie Metropark and Humbug Marsh and I was looking forward to a tall glass of something cold, but I told myself I had one more stop to make, bopping over to Memorial Park. I had not been there since visiting the Memorial Day flag display back in May. Now that I drive to Council Point Park every day, it is not the same as walking to and from the Park, then veering over a few blocks on foot to visit the volunteer gardens. Plus, we have had so many mornings with gray skies that you can’t tell if it is overcast due to impending rain or the result of the Canadian wildfire haze, so I’ve been leaving my camera at home most weekdays. But the brilliant and sunny afternoon, prompted me to pay a visit to this venue.
However, when I arrived at Memorial Park, assuming I would be alone to meander around the four raised bed gardens, I really didn’t know where to look first. That is because the most-recent severe weather had ravaged this park, leaving tree limbs and huge branches scattered throughout the grounds. Before I could move from where I stood transfixed while gazing at the damage, I heard the strains of a violin. A violin in the park? Very quickly Your Roving Reporter went to discover the “who, what, where, when, why and how” of this story. Every Thursday night all Summer the City sponsors free concerts at the Bandshell, mostly tribute bands. City residents flock to Memorial Park to hum, sing along or even dance to their music. We also have events featuring all-day/evening tribute bands battling it out. But those bands – that genre – is rock music, NOT classical music.
The butterflies would have to take a back seat for now while I investigated this phenomenon, dogging the source of the music like Detective Columbo. Thus a blog post began to percolate.
Well, there they were, a violist and cellist tucked away near the gardens.
I crept up slowly behind them as I didn’t want to interrupt their concentration and yes, to get some photos. Just then another person appeared on the scene and he was holding a video camera and a microphone. The music stopped suddenly. I was introduced to the trio, first the musicians: Annette, the violist and Paul the cellist and then the videographer, whose name was Don.
I learned that these gardens were the last stop on the City’s Garden Walk.
Yes, I already knew the Garden Walk was today, but in the past it was only residents’ homes, not public gardens. Who knew? The annual event resumed last Summer after a COVID pause. You have to go to the Historical Society, make a donation and then you get a map to each stop on the Garden Walk.
So, Annette and I chitchatted about which flowers are bee and butterfly magnets, then I asked if I could take a few more photos …
… then I moved along as the “tour group” began to assemble for Annette’s welcoming speech as she switched hats from violinist to gardener.
That gave me an opportunity to take pictures of her violin and sheet music.
Oh ya … back to the gardens and the reason I was here.
The flowers were scant unlike other years. That might have been from the drought-like conditions we had earlier in the Summer, but all that rain and searing sun in July should have produced prolific blooms, right? There were a few pretty flowers and a few roses in the Blumrosen Memorial Garden.
I went from one garden to the next – hmm. Where were the butterflies? I believe it when I read or hear about our beautiful butterflies slowly becoming extinct because, instead of the usual half-dozen or so butterflies alighting on Lantana and Coneflowers, my eyes honed in on a single butterfly on that visit, a delicate creature with wings so tattered I wondered how it could flit from flower to flower.
Tenacity and tattered wings.
Well amidst a group of lackluster Lantana and droopy Coneflowers, a Black Swallowtail fluttered by. Its tattered wings did not impede it in the least. I took many shots of this butterfly. Here are some of my favorites, including the one up top. Look closely at those wings – however does it fly?
From tattered wings to tattered trees.
I was happy to kick July to the curb after a month of severe and scary weather. I assume this tree damage at Memorial Park had been the Wednesday before storm that ravaged large trees and scattered debris everywhere. These slideshow photos show some of the significant damage.
Even Sergeant Craig Frank’s hat (a baseball cap from a Vietnam vet which I showed you in my Memorial Day post) …
… was not exempt from the nearly 60 mph wind. A kindly soul had replaced the hat with a wooden plaque with letters spelling out “love” as seen below.
Many photos later, I trudged home. What was supposed to be a 15-minute stop had morphed into an hour-long visit to this venue.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
That must have been some storm. I wonder if the butterfly wings got battered in it, too. I especially loved your photo of the rose-colored flower with the yellow center — gorgeous! What a nice surprise finding the violist and cellist in the garden. I’ve never taken one of those garden walks before but have often felt inclined to do so. Maybe some day. Sounds like a refreshing unplanned hour you spent there!
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I was wondering about the storm battering the butterfly’s wings as well Barbara. I know sometimes their wings get torn on rosebush thorns, but unless this butterfly was flitting around the neighborhood, there was only one or two blooming rosebushes in this garden. It didn’t seem to keep the butterfly from flying, but I’ve never seen such tattered wings before. Thank you – what flowers were there were nice to see – this garden once thrived and there were roses galore. The original garden was actually a tribute to a woman who was the head of the Rose Society of Detroit, so they built the raised garden and all roses, but it’s fallen into disrepair over the years. I usually do a 15-minutes tops trip there – I couldn’t believe how long I stayed here
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You never know what you’ll find when you venture out!
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I know! Those two people were really into making music and it filled the area. A breath of fresh air on a long, hot day!
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So fun when folks are playing music in the park. The butterfly’s wings are pretty torn up but still work 🙂
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Yes, that a first for me for hearing them play Sandra. They have rock tribute bands at the Bandshell all the time, but this was something really unique. It amazed me that the butterfly could even fly with its hind wings gone … it went from flower to flower effortlessly.
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I loved the surprise music in the park.
Your photos, as usual, are fantastic.
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I thought you would like the musical portion of this post Anne. It was quite a surprise to find them playing there. That music really carried. Thank you … the butterfly amazed me, as did the trees. Just a mile away, there were no trees down where I walk every day … not from that storm anyway. We have had severe/stormy weather at least once per week all Summer … this week we will have two bouts of it.
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The accounts of your weather frighten me. Your photos showed so many downed limbs.
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I’ve been a Nervous Nellie plenty of times this Summer, especially in lieu of the downed wire and fire last December. The neighbor’s big, dead tree that caused the downed wire/fire is still there and gives me cause to pause every storm and/or high wind event we get. Now we have two storms tomorrow, a.m. and afternoon/early evening and Thursday and Friday each have storms – then thankfully calm weather.
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I’m sorry that the butterflies were few and far between, but how nice that you had your own personal concert in the park!
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I’ve hardly seen any butterflies this Summer Janis – I don’t know if it has something to do with climate change or the wildfire smoke, but it’s a real shame. This was a treat to run into these two musicians. We have regular concerts there at the Bandshell, but this was a first for me and I’ve lived here since 1966. How did you fare in the storm – are you both okay and/or sustain any damage to your home?
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All is well. Big rain and wind… no damage. Thanks for asking.
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That’s great news Janis … you won’t have to water your garden for weeks! I think you had lemon trees if I recall.
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What a neat idea for a fund raiser! I really enjoyed your violin and music photos. That butterfly has had a rough life, but is definitely a survivor and inspiration. The wind has been hard on the trees this year. We’ve also had some rather large limbs down here. They can make quite a mess. I’m glad someone is looking out for the vet memorial. A nice collection of photos!
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Glad you liked this collection of photos Rebecca. I was torn between putting Annette’s violin and sheet music side by side as my header image or using the butterfly. I liked how the weathered case looked and the instrument shone in the sun. I felt badly for that butterfly yet it moved effortlessly around the garden which amazed me. The trees were quite a mess and partly it surprised me as no other neighborhood trees were down, nor were there trees down at the park where I walk daily. So it must have been a terrific blast of wind that damaged these trees so badly. I remember your trees from the ice storm and also a torrential storm one time and the trees were sitting in water. The weather this year everywhere has been horrid. I liked seeing that sign at the vet memorial and felt badly the hat had blown away.
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Thanks for your description of your walk at the Metropark, Linda. You are so lucky to have such wonderful (free) cultural activities at such a pretty venue.
I guess the butterflies were tattered by the same windstorm as the trees. we were up in Cape Cod visiting my sister and brother-in-law this weekend. We sat on the porch and watched as monarch buttterflies drifted slowly by. I wondered if they were already beginning their migration south or if they were just flitting around, hunting for local flowers.
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Glad you liked this post Laurie. We are lucky here to have so many parks and also local waterways that are free to visit. Michigan is thinking of changing its state motto to “Bountiful waters, boundless possibilities.” I have never seen a butterfly with such tattered wings, but it didn’t affect its ability to flit from flower to flower. It might be the monarchs are gathering to head south – the hummingbirds are already beginning to migrate from Michigan, though it’s far from cold here. Today we had 85 with a real feel of 90 and Thursday we’ll be 95 with a real feel over 100. The Cape Cod visit sounds nice – I know you often visit around 4th of July. Hope all is well with your sister and brother-in-law these days.
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I can’t believe the Swallowtail could still fly, they are so pretty. There is nothing better than listening to musicians play an instrument in nature. Did Annette not want her face shown? That was a lot of tree damage Linda! I can’t believe how long you can walk, kudos to you lady!
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It was amazing to me too Diane – no hind wings to speak of.
It was so nice to just come upon these two people playing in the Park, kind of hidden so all I heard was music. You are observant about Annette. Last year there was an elderly woman weeding at this volunteer garden. I was there to take butterfly pictures. So the elderly woman and I chitchatted for about ten minutes then abruptly she said “well I have to go back to work now.” So I said “do you mind if I take your photo?” I explained I had a blog about walking and nature. She literally went off on me and said “you take my picture and I’ll grab that camera right out of your hands!” She was not kidding and I felt her reaction was uncalled for and I was taken aback to be honest. So, Annette and I were having a nice discussion about garden venues around here – she’d never been to MacArthur Park with the murals and pollinator garden so I gave her directions. When she said she liked volunteering here and I told her about the other woman’s comment to me, she said “well I don’t like when people take pictures of me either.” So, I decided not to take any photos of her. Paul, the cellist, I did ask if he minded if I took his picture and he said “sure” so I did.
I had no idea that there was all that tree damage there – usually people in our City’s Facebook forum discuss topics like storm damage, power outages – no one said anything. That one tree where the huge branch landed on the cannon I am sure that tree is a goner. Thank you! Weekends can turn into long walks of 6-7 miles. I have to post a total soon … maybe for the first day of Fall. Several times I walked at Meijer this Summer as it was cooler – did that yesterday and may do that Thursday – it’s going to 95 in the afternoon! Today I went outside, felt like October!
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Men never seem to care if their picture is taken. Lol
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You’re right Diane – he gave me a big smile!
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Purple coneflowers…a beautiful and familiar sign of deep summer!
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Yes they are thesimlux … and I like how they often rally through Autumn.
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Miss Linda………………………..that was an awesome blog on the swallowtail butterfly and the beautiful flowers in our own backyard…………………Lincoln Park……………………………………….thank you for doing all of the walking and picture taking for us to enjoy…………………………….
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I’m glad you liked it and the photos Ann Marie. I’m wondering if you ever went to see the garden beds when you still lived here? That butterfly was something else – it amazed me it could hover over the flowers with such dilapidated wings.
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I love this description of you “dogging the source of the music like Detective Columbo”! Your post is full of serendipity and ingenuity! That’s so fun the trio was there and let you photo them too. This will be a post to revisit in the middle of the winter (sorry to swear). The colors and the flowers will bring back warm memories! 🥰😍
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Thank you Shelley! I was wandering around trying to figure out what was going on – I never connected the Garden Walk, as it was formerly for residences only – probably only a few homeowners signed up, so they included three public gardens this year. Laughing at “winter (sorry to swear)” – yes, this will be a nice remembrance in the depths of Winter – ugh.
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I’m glad you wandered and discovered the connections. I bet the trio enjoyed the attention.
While I don’t want to think of the four letter word (snow), it’ll happen and we’ll be needing some warm memories to cheer us for sure!
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I should go back and see if there are any more flowers there since last time … they were all nice. I long for Summer, but don’t long for Winter, but I even read a long-range prediction for Fall and it started out “many of you are ready to welcome Fall …” so I know I am not the only one. Fall is going to be very warm and the story said “Fall is shrinking from its former self.” Hmm.
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Yes, the fall flowers should be blooming soon. Sedums in my yard are starting to attract bees.
Oh, dear, NO… not Fall shrinking too! WTH?
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Yes, shrinking Fall due to extended heat into October … weather is not only scary and violent but a disappointment.
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😫😣😭🤗
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How lovely to find music while walking in the park. What a great treat. Stunning flowers, we have had so much rain and so little sun that so many flowers have not bloomed this year.
I’m glad that butterfly was not troubled by its damaged wings, I always feel so sad when I see such damage.
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I feel the same way about seeing butterflies with such damage Ari, but this one seemed to have no trouble flitting from flower to flower – such resilience. That music in the park was a treat to find … something unexpected and made me linger so much longer on that hot day. We had a three-week drought with not a drop of rain in June, then since then a lot of rain, often torrential and many severe storms. Not your usual Summer at all.
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How does that butterfly fly? I’ve seen a butterfly like that before and wondered if it was bit by an animal or snagged by a tree.
Linda, it’s wonderful you can walk so much. I’ve been using my phone’s step tracker for just over 100 days and it’s been motivating me to get my steps in.
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It is amazing Esther – this butterfly was about the worst I’ve ever seen and still able to fly. I have read that the butterflies with the torn wings are often from tearing their wings on rose bushes and also that birds eat butterflies, so it might have been a near miss with a bird’s beak. It could have been out in any of our storms (we have another severe one tonight and had one last night) or have snagged their wings on a tree’s bark. That is great using your phone’s tracker. I have seen people do that at the Park, also for running as well. Did you set a goal or just keeping track this way? Do you always have the kids with you when you keep track so they are marking miles too? I do well on weekends at bigger parks although I stop so much to take pictures – could add another mile I’m sure if I didn’t.
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It is really something how elderly butterflies can get those very tattered wings.
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Yes it is Tom. I’ve seen butterflies with somewhat tattered wings at the end of Summer, but nothing like this. I’m amazed it could fly.
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Playing stringed instruments outside can be challenging, the strings stretch out in humidity and become the wrong note. I’m glad you found this spot on a sunny day and turned your 15 minutes into an hour adventure. Beautiful flowers.
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It was a hot and humid day so that’s interesting; I didn’t know that Ally. Have you played a stringed instruments in the past? I took accordion lessons as a kid and guitar lessons as an adult, but no longer play either. It was an afternoon of discoveries, between the musicians and the tree damage and even the very tattered butterfly.
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I played violin when I was in school, up until college. Strings are not forgiving when it comes to temps and humidity. And the hairs on a bow can be problematic, too.
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That’s interesting about you playing the violin and also what happens to strings in humidity. I am surprised they both played then given the heat and humidity. I never met anyone who played violin or cello before this event.
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I love unexpectedly finding live musicians in public, especially those who play classical styles. I imagine the music was lovely. Butterflies seem a perfect companion to strings.
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This was a real treat JP … it was amazing to hear this music and not know where it was coming from. Yes, the light and airy butterfly and the sweet strains of the violin and cello in the open air … perfect for a Summer day.
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