King Billy butterfly

Apparently these are -- somewhere -- known as King Billy butterflies, arriving in those areas around King Billy's day, July 12th. Not so here -- I don't think I've seen them much earlier than now, almost two weeks after Billyday (although I *did* see one a couple of years ago a whole week before Billyday. . . .).

The connection to Billy is also through his, William's, royal House of Orange, the Billybug's main colour. Just the same, I grew up calling them the rather more standard name, Monarch butterflies.

I used to see them from time to time as a child. But as an adult I did not. And I started doubting my memories when I heard people say that we have no Monarchs on the island of Newfoundland. Well, we do.

This one complaisantly perched for a minute on a compost pile at the community garden I have a plot in. He showed me both sides of his wings and flew away.

I hope he found some milkweed.