Of all the claims made by environmental alarmists, the decline of certain kinds of butterflies is the only one that I’ve actually noticed with my own eyes. I saw a monarch in my yard a couple of days ago, fluttering around the Daphne shrubs. It was the first I’ve seen this year. In my youth, they were an everyday occurrence. Another type I rarely see anymore is one we used to call “swallowtails,” large yellow-and-black butterflies. Haven’t seen one yet this year, last year I saw maybe three or four. Back in the 50s and 60s, I would see them every day during the summer.
When I was young my grandma had a huge flower garden as well as a regular garden. Butterflies, bees, bumble bees everywhere. I saw a black bumble bee in our yard this morning, first one I’ve seen in years. Can’t remember when I last saw a butterfly.