Yes. If intelligence is the ability to seek out nectar and pollinate flowers, yes. In terms of long-term travel to their southern climes and back, Monarchs in particularnever cease to amaze.
But are they dependable? In terms of showing up when they’re expected, to bask in humans’ adoration? Not so much.
The events of the day at Wave Hill, the century and a half old estate that is now an arboretum and horticultural center, were supposed to highlight butterflies. There was a “Nature Walk: Butterflies in the Garden” and special arts and crafts activities for families. The last expedition had just gone out when we arrived mid-afternoon, so we thought we’d go it alone.
We saw brilliant flowers.
Of all colors.
Shapes. Sizes.
Surely some that would appeal to a butterfly.
Look, there’s a monarch! said Gil. But it had vanished.
I see a little white one, said Josefa. A cabbage moth, corrected Gil.
There were some bees of different types. Where there were bees wouldn’t you expect butterflies?
We learned that Louis Bauer, the horticultural director at Wave Hill, was going to be honored at a party in a couple of days. I met Louis when I sold him a tree inventory for Wave Hill a few years ago. I remember asking him how he kept everything so beautiful in the greenhouses there. I go in three or four times a day and stick my finger in the soil to see if they have enough water, he said. Simple genius.
The greenhouses, of course, had no butterflies, but some prehistoric looking desert plants.
And a buxom cactus.
More flowers. Nothing fluttered by.
Quiet trails.
Vistas in every direction. Some of them private.
The most fabulous view out over the Hudson was getting ready for its closeup with white wedding party chairs.
We just about gave up. Not only did we not see butterflies, we didn’t see anybody looking for butterflies. Was this some colossal joke?
A sculpture on the lawn made use of succulents, moss, and a tire fetched out of the Bronx River.
Wave Hill has a pair of copper beeches to die for. One of the elephantine pair has pristine bark that you just want to go up to and pet. The other’s branches drape down to the ground and hide a trunk covered with a venerable array ofcarvings. I have always liked beech bark carvings. It makes for a good place to meet a friend for a private assignation. I feel like I’ve done that sometime, in another life.
We stretched out in the adirondack chairs that make Wave Hill an even more perfect place. In the mellow shade of a white oak. The burnished glaze of fall made us collapse with thirst.
So the winged creatures missed the cameras and the oohs and ahhs. They took the nectar and ran. They had better places to hang out. They’re that smart.
