Joann Merritt's Essays

The Butterflies Of August
August, 2003

“To be a butterflier is to see and smell the earth up close. This leads to a warm appreciation not only for native plants but for the full spectrum of the natural world”, writes Jeffrey Glassberg, President of North American Butterfly Association. He adds, “To be a butterflier is to be a conservationist. With thousands of new people now searching for butterflies near and far with binoculars and cameras, gardening for butterflies, and rearing caterpillars from their gardens, NABA has clearly increased the public’s enjoyment and awareness of butterflies.”

Midnats awareness of Twine vine (Sarcostemma Cynanchoides) in Pemberton Draw last August led to our enjoyment of the butterflies found nectaring there on the vine’s clustered flowers. This year Rose Marie alerted us in July that the vine was in bloom and even though it is a 60-mile roundtrip Midnat butterfliers have made numerous trips there to enjoy this butterfly haven that Don H. calls Butterfly Bend.

As the road bends sharply to the right it is banked high on the left side which in turn creates a steep incline toward the Twinevine. This makes an excellent location for identifying and observing the butterflies while they nectar, bask or rest in this low spot protected from the wind. Admittedly, it gets hot because of this very reason but it’s a good trade-off because the butterflies are concentrated in that small peaceful area, and beyond that is mostly dry pasture. Sometimes they will fly across the fence and temporarily be hidden from view, but with a little patience and luck you may see them return. If not, other equally exciting species will appear to keep your eyes and mind busy. Twinevine not only entwines the fences and shrubs but also the hearts of those who love butterflies.

Pemberton Draw continues meandering and winding on its journey to nearby Harris Ranch where another butterfly-friendly native plant, Plains Ironweed (Vernonia marginata) is in a riotous deep purple blooming frenzy - as are some of the butterfliers! Sally Wasowski explains the meaning of the name. She planted ONE Ironweed in rich blackland prairie country and for four years it was a delight.

Then the roots, each one easily an inch thick, iron hard, at least a foot underground and able to travel 30 feet or more, took off in all directions sending up new plants at 2 foot intervals. “Use extreme caution in flowerbeds,” she advises.

Ironweed’s bitter taste prevents it from being eaten by livestock and thus a healthy stand snakes its way for a quarter of a mile or so through Harris’ ranchland. Named for an English botanist William Vernon, Vernonia has roots that have been used to purify the blood, to reduce fevers, and as an aphrodisiac and snakebite cure according to Geyata Ajilsvgi in Wildflowers of Texas. Since she didn’t specify what to do with the roots to effect a snakebite cure, Sybil, Don and I cautiously wore our snake guards.

August was Butterfly Month in Midland this year and these two spots were a naturalist’s special curve of the world - it couldn’t be called a corner of the world because there were no straight lines, just curves, bends, circles and spirals. When I consider that this is the only known place in Midland County where Twinevine and Ironweed grow and that nature alone has created this great habitat for butterflies, it tugs the heartstrings of my already entwined heart.

I had thought these intermittent waterways emptied into the Concho River until Burr Williams explained that Pemberton Draw leads to Johnson Draw which joins Midland Draw thence to Sulphur Springs and Beal’s Creek and finally into the Colorado River.

I’d like to repeat Jeffrey Glassberg’s statement “To be a butterflier is to see and smell the earth up close. This leads to a warm appreciation not only for native plants but for the full spectrum of the natural world.”