Our August meeting featured Margaret Pickles of Niagara College. Margaret told us the fascinating story of the Monarch butterfly and the annual migration that occurs each year. She also discussed recent threats to the viability of the Monarch. Record low numbers of monarchs in 2012-13 are attributed to cold spring temperatures and drought conditions. Those wishing to help preserve these jewels of the insect world may help by preserving milkweed, the favourite host plant of the monarch, or by planting butterfly gardens, or by registering on line with Monarch Watch at www.monarchwatch.org.

Our September monthly meeting will be our Annual General Meeting and will feature a 25th Anniversary slide presentation by Wayne Tester.