Memorial Day 2014

Thank you and God Bless

Butterflies Flutter By - Geneva, IL

Time to visit my travel bug at Peck Farm Park in Geneva, IL

 

 

 

Monarch - bigger than I remember.  Maybe 4" across.  Four generations of monarchs make the great monarch migration (Nova PBS special).  The first generation from Canada makes a 2000 mile journey to Mexico.  They will hitch rides across the great lakes, and studies have shown that if captured, and release elsewhere (i.e. other states, the Caribbean, etc.) they get their bearings and continue on to Mexico. 

The second generation born in Mexico, starts the migration north and lay eggs in the continental US somewhere.  The third generation born in the continental US, continue the migration north and end in Canada, laying eggs and starting the cycle again. 

 Common buckeye

 

 

 Pipevine swallowtail

 

  Male Julia (a little wounded but still fluttering around)

 Palomedes swallowail (wouldn't stop fluttering - always in motion)

 

 Zebra

 

 

 Male great southern white

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 After the butterfly house, wandered around the farm nature center

 

 

 

This lovely barn swallow stayed for the longest time.  Guess he wanted to make sure I got a good picture.

 

 The view of the farm from the pond.

 

 The orientation barn - nothing going on there today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grosse Point Lighthouse

The Grosse Point Lighthouse in Evanston, IL is on the national register of historic places.  Also on the property is the Evanston Art Center; however it was closed in preparation of the next exhibit.

 

The first view 

 Lighthouse and Evanston Art Center

 There is also a small wild flower garden with other native plants

 

 

 The little sign below says "Butterfly House"

 

View of the lighthouse from the dunes near the beach 

 

Right next door is Northwestern University.  This is part of Greek row.

The pond / lagoon - past the trees is Lake Michigan

HUGE fish - no idea what they are, but some of the larger ones looked to be 8-10" around and 2 1/2 - 3' in length.  This is on the Lake Michigan side of a small bridge.

On the other side of the bridge, the fish were gathering at this rock wall, looked like they were trying to get over the rocks to the lagoon.

New view for me - Chicago from the north.  Looks better from the southwest (22 miles out) at our old house in Hickory Hills.

Rock wall / breakers.  Couple I spoke to at the lighthouse said the students paint them.  As far as you can see they are painted with pictures, proposals, anniversaries, and Bible quotes.

 

 

Lovely day to sit and stare at the lake and Chicago.  Sat here quite a while.

Look back at the lagoon and NWU from the break wall.

 

Looking back south towards Chicago from the far north end of the break wall.

 

 

 

Totally agree with this one!

 

 

 

 

This one just reminded me of my sweet girl Molly (RIP 2/3/2014) 

 

 

Volleyball tournament and yoga on the lake.

Looking north towards the lighthouse from the NWU campus.

Back to the lighthouse and art center.