Wind (West Wing) 

60 Minutes Looped

Wind can be frightening and also calming.  A calm breeze may give rise to butterflies, bees, or birds as they canvas for food.  But too much wind can have devastating effects. If the wind is unseasonably bitter and cold, monarchs migrating from overwintering grounds in southern climes can die off in significant numbers. 

Winds can also push these monarch wanderers into new areas, following entirely new migration routes that were not known until recently.  In California, monarchs shelter from the winter ocean winds in large eucalyptus trees and can be found clustering together for safety. 

In the desert landscape the wind can be overwhelming and foreboding.  And, yet, the landscape is bursting with life.  Imagine the types of landscapes and weather conditions our wandering monarchs must face while traveling from Mexico to Canada and back.

Take a closer look-- after a rainfall or in the morning, little pools of water collect on cactus leaves and flower petals, and drip from vines.  These miniscule ponds are perfect water bowls for thirsty insects and butterflies.  Desert plants rely on these pools of water as well.  Can you see any pooling on the massive Blue Agave Century Plant (Agave Americana)?

Contributors (in order of appearance): Lauren Adleman, Horticulturist, Maymont; Anna Chahuneau, Director, Pursuing the Monarchs; Danielle Bronson (Patterson), California State Park Interpreter, Pismo Beach Monarch Grove, Oceano Dunes District; Dr. Lincoln Brower, Research Professor of Biology, Sweet Briar College; Laurie McMinn, Horticulturist, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden; Linda McBride, Virginia Master Gardener and Naturalist; Lorrie Lincoln, Volunteer, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden;

Protection (East Wing) 

60 Minutes Looped

Turn over a leaf during a rainstorm and you might encounter a butterfly resting underneath. Our world is delicately balanced and every living thing seeks some sort of protection to stay alive, whether it is a bear cub staying close to its momma, or a family of Chimney Swifts swooping into tiny spaces for a night’s rest. Humans seek protection, too; but sometimes, we serve as a significant threat to the living things with which we share our planet.

Here, in this humid and colorful environment all sorts of plants offer protection to things big and small. And yet, this same place invites and celebrates life’s greatest lesson: that we are all in this together. The butterflies benefit from the plants, the plants from the butterflies.

Take a closer look-- you may find butterflies hovering around the large Banana Tree (Musa spp.) to your right.  The Owl Butterfly (Caligo genus) loves slurping rotten banana fruit and the banana tree can is also a host plant.  You may also see a few butterflies checking for nectar on the Murray Panniculata tree to your left.

Other noteworthy host plants include the Tropical Passionflower (Passiflora Vitifolia), which provides nourishment to many tropical caterpillars, the Gulf Fritillary (Argaulis Vanillae), Julia Heliconian (Dryas Julia), Vareigated Fritillary (Eupotoieta Claudia), Zebra Heliconian (Heliconius Charitonia), and the Small Postman (Heliconius Erato). 

Contributors (in order of appearance): Lorrie Lincoln, Volunteer, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden; Linda McBride, Virginia Master Gardener and Naturalist; Laurie McMinn, Horticulturist, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden; John Morse, Director of Horticulture, Lewis Ginter Bontanical Garden; Lauren Adleman, Horticulturist, Maymont; Wendy DesChene, Professor, Auburn University; Jeff Schmuki, Professor, Georgia Southern University; Dr. Lincoln Brower, Research Professor of Biology, Sweet Briar College; Anna Chahuneau, Director, Pursuing the Monarchs; Danielle Bronson (Patterson), California State Park Interpreter, Pismo Beach Monarch Grove, Oceano Dunes District; Ralph White, Former Manager (retired), James River Park System.