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Books About Life on a Farm Written Especially for People Who Like to Read! "Highly recommended reading." The Midwest Book Review Reviews & Readers' Comments |
LeAnn R. Ralph Rural Route 2 Author E6689 970th Ave. Colfax, WI 54730 (715) 308-6336 |
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by LeAnn R. Ralph One early May evening when my husband, Randy, and I went for a walk along the dirt road north of our house, we saw our first Karner Blue butterfly of the season. I am always thrilled to see a Karner Blue because, after all, it is not every day that an endangered species flits across my path. Karner Blues are tiny blue butterflies that are exactly the same color as the blue flowers of the lupine plants that are their habitat. And the highest population of Karner Blues in the world is right here where we live in Wisconsin. Sometimes when I am down at the barn, a Karner Blue will stop by to find moisture in the mud near the barn door. Sometimes I will see a Karner Blue in the backyard. And often, after the Karner Blues are more active, I will come across little flocks of them when I walk along the dirt road. I grew up seeing Karner Blue butterflies but didn't think a thing of it. I had no idea they were so rare. I always regarded them as enchanting little butterflies -- and they really are quite small, only about the size of the tip of my finger -- but I never knew why or how they were so unusual. It was only later on that I discovered they are rare and that the lupine plants are their only habitat. Later in May, the lupine will be in bloom. The lupine plants favor sunny hillsides, and the biggest patch of it near my house is on the steep powerline right-of-way across the road. When the lupine blooms, the hillside is blue with color. The lupine flowers are so pretty that I am tempted to pick them and put them into a bouquet. Then I remember the Karner Blue butterflies need the flowers to help them survive, and the temptation passes. It is enough to see the blue flowers on the hillside -- and to know that because the lupine plants are there, the Karner Blues will still visit my yard. copyright © 2005 LeAnn R. Ralph To learn more about Karner Blue butterflies and other butterflies, visit -- Wisconsin Butterflies ******************** LeAnn R. Ralph is the author of the farm books "Christmas in Dairyland (True Stories from a Wisconsin Farm" (trade paperback 2003); "Give Me a Home Where the Dairy Cows Roam" (trade paperback 2004); "Preserve Your Family History (A Step-by-Step Guide for Interviewing Family Members and Writing Oral Histories" (e-book 2004). You are invited to sign up for the free newsletter, Rural Route 2 News -- http://ruralroute2.com |
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Privacy Policy: Any information you provide to Rural Route 2 will be kept strictly confidential and will not be not given to any third parties. Telephone number is requested in case LeAnn needs to contact you about your order. E-mail address is requested so LeAnn can confirm your order. This Web Site and All Its Contents are Copyright © 2008 LeAnn R. Ralph. All Rights Reserved |
