The wealth of the kingdom

I have never been sure why the name monarch got assigned to the butterfly that bears it, since Danaus plexippus is neither the largest nor (to my eye) the most beautiful of North American butterflies, though it may have the most compelling story. But it has the name it does, and the metaphor of royalty works in its case.

A trailside sign in Lucas County's Blue Creek Conservation area notes that the park system "take[s] this prairie to the bank," since it serves as a major seed nursery. To mix metaphors, for monarch butterflies, this just-out-of-town restored prairie is a palace where a feast is being held.

While no monarchs would get close enough to be photographed, this field was full of them, nectaring and (I suspect) looking for places to lay eggs. Some prime spots had already been chosen.

"Weedy" areas are essential habitat for a variety of creatures. This particular prairie patch (and that is what it is: a hundred years ago, this area was home to an active limestone quarry and a prison farm) hosts not only butterflies but several bee species, field sparrows, finches, blackbirds, raptors, rodents, and, next to the old quarry, a variety of dragonflies, damselflies and at least one great blue heron.

To most humans, this conservation area may not look like much, but to many other creatures, places like this are some of the wealthiest "kingdoms" imaginable. They even have monarchs.