The Monarchs have returned, this is Europe’s largest butterfly and one that remarkably, can cross the Atlantic if it so chooses.
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Traversing storms and fickle winds, this is a true global citizen found from Australia to the Americas.
Now for a few short months it will grace the lower slopes of the mountain and glide on tiny unseen warm currents in search of the sweetness of its flowers.
The Monarch’s vivid colours also serve as a warning to predators that advertise her magnificent toxicity. In this way, the Monarch has no need to hide, instead she proclaims her royal title to all who see her.
By the end of August though, she will have become just another beautiful memory of summer on an Andalucian mountain – so I will sit here and enjoy this spectacle while I can.
Photo: Monarch butterfly. Courtesy of the author.