Lessons & Reflections from the National Butterfly Center

For most butterfliers, being in the right place at the right time is that serendipitous moment when everything comes together beautifully, and you get to see something rare, unusual and special—and you have your camera to capture this sighting!

It's a little different for me. I get excited about all butterflies, because they're all new to me; and if something is unique, exceptional or record-setting, chances are I won't know. I rely on the keen and experienced members of the NBC to identify my subjects and share their super-finds with me. But recently, through no expertise of my own, I got to be the one pointing, teaching and fanning the fire for one of our young visitors.

Sally's family brought her to the NBC, one Saturday. Mom, Dad, Big Sister, Little Sister and Baby Sister spent hours in the sweltering 102* heat, following their pint-sized tour leader down the trails and through the gardens.

Near the end of the day, I approached the family while they were taking a break in the bird watching area. I asked them the usual questions, pointed out the Giant Swallowtail sailing by, and that's when it happened: Sally's eyes lit up and she began talking, excitedly, about the Admirals in her yard, and Monarch tagging. She whipped out her well-worn, grown-up field guide and began showing me pictures of the butterflies she knows are native to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and asking me questions about this and that, and that and this.

Her mother glanced at me and said, “Sally is really into butterflies,” with a half-apologetic smile.

I replied, “That's great! Did you see the Mexican Bluewings in the gully? Would you like to go look for them?!”

Mom and Dad were melting, and surely would have preferred to sit in the shade, but Sally popped up—and Little Sister did as little sisters do—and the three of us took off. First, we stopped at a butterfly feeder, where we photographed a Tropical Leafwing. Here, Sally told me about butterfly scales and tongues, and their feeding habits.

Walking through the gully, one Bluewing graciously appeared, teasing all of us as it flew high and low, back and forth, never stopping long enough for a good look...but that didn't matter. A Longtail Skipper landed in front of us, and Sally told me her favorite butterfly is a Zebra Heliconian; so we headed to the patch of lantana they seem to like.

For the next hour, Sally and I walked and talked, with her family trudging behind. Each time she took my elbow, I knew she had something very important to tell me.

While I marveled at the knowledge of this remarkable girl, her parents thanked me profusely for talking to her. “We can't keep up with her,” they confessed, “She knows way more than we do!”

I wanted to confess, “I think she knows more than I do!” Instead, I let them know how wonderful it was, for me, to get to share the NBC with someone who could appreciate it the way she did.

Thankful. Humbled. Special. That's how Sally made me feel. This gifted girl chose to spend the late afternoon searching the grounds with me, in thoughtful conversation. She saw many beautiful butterflies; I saw one child with a powerful fascination. How lucky can one be? I was in the right place, at the right time, for a chance encounter with this truly lovely creature!