Urquhart Butterfly Garden – A Treasure in the Valley

As if the endless trails and waterfalls weren’t enough, Dundas is also home to the Urquhart Butterfly Garden. Named after pioneering entomologists Dr. Frederick and Norah Urquhart, who after forty years of patient research solved the mystery of the migrating monarchs, construction of Canada's first municipal butterfly garden began in 1994.

Located in Centennial Park on the banks of the Desjardins Canal, it is heavily planted with nectar and foliage plants needed by butterflies and their caterpillars. It is maintained without the use of pesticides, many of which are detrimental to butterfly populations.

The garden now consists of six large raised beds, each approximately 75 × 35 feet, as well as the adjacent bank of the canal. All are planted with shrubs, perennials and annuals.

On any given day as I walk the meandering paths of the garden, I will spot a variety of butterflies and other insects. The selection seen depends on the season and so is always changing and interesting. There is a kiosk on site which houses a number of interpretive panels identifying many of the butterflies and plants you will see here, illustrating butterfly metamorphosis and explaining how to create butterfly-friendly yards at home.

According to their website, the garden is the brainchild of local businesswoman Joanna Chapman, who in 1992 catalyzed the formation of a group known as the "Butterfly Coalition". Members of the Coalition secured funding, identified an appropriate site, solicited contributions in kind from many local businesses and individuals, gained the support of the Town of Dundas and devoted many hours of their own time to planting and maintaining the garden.

Being at the site of the canal, there are always opportunities to spot ducks, swans and other waterfowl as well. Quiet and peaceful, it is well worth a visit.

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The Red Admirals Have Arrived!

If you’ve done any hiking recently, you’ve likely noticed a lot of orange and black butterflies flying about. If you’ve been wondering if the quantity that you are seeing is higher than normal, you would be correct.

Southern Ontario is experiencing what is known as an irruption, a sudden increase in the population of red admiral butterflies. It seems that a wave of these brightly coloured flying insects have arrived from their overwintering grounds in south Texas and Florida. A large migration of this size has not been seen since 1981.

Over the weekend after noticing quite a number in the backyard, I headed down for a walk through the Dundas Valley to see if any photo opportunities presented themselves.

I was not disappointed and soon I was snapping away, trying to capture a few images as these bright butterflies flitted from plant to plant feeding on the nectar of dandelions and other wild plants.

With a wingspan of about 45 to 50 millimeters, Red Admirals are considered mid-size for the butterfly world. They are easy to identify thanks to their striking patterning; the black forewings feature prominent orange bars and white spots.

The undersides of their hindwings are delicately patterned with brown and black, which provide excellent camouflage when they are roosting on tree trunks. They typically seek out stinging nettles to lay their eggs but will feed from a variety of plants.

On this day, we were joined by a pair of turkey vultures, another species that has been seen in abundance this year. This one seemed to watch us with great interest. I wasn’t sure if he was interested in Rosie or was questioning my ability to be able to successfully hike back home. Although rather ugly by bird standards I find these large carrion feeders captivating and enjoy watching them lazily circle overhead.

The incredibly long migration flight of butterflies is truly fascinating and I am looking forward to the return of the monarch’s which are expected to return in the next few weeks.

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