Butterflies, much like bees, pollinate—an essential factor in maintaining a diverse and sustainable ecosystem. Glenstone is home to a variety of butterfly species that can be seen from late spring into fall, including swallowtails, red-spotted purples, fritillaries, and skippers. The monarch butterfly, or Danaus plexippus, thrives off milkweed, which grows abundantly in Glenstone’s vast meadow and by the stream. The monarch is distinguishable by its black, orange, and white wings, which span up to four inches. Monarch butterflies native to North America migrate nearly 3,000 miles each year.

–Katana Doescher, from the Glenstone Field Guide