It not only is a paradise for monarch but we also believe there could be rusty patched bumble bees buzzing around. They’re an endangered species that isn’t seen very often. Of. course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the loads of other bumble bee, humming bird, moths, and the ubiquitous deer flies (mostly during July).

Surely the likely immigrants who opened up this remote part of the forest to eek out a meager living in what at the time was about as inhospitable a place as any on earth couldn’t have guessed what they were creating. They started an oasis which would be fertilized by years of cattle grazing and one day give way to a crop of milkweed. The hard work of those in the early 20th century laid the foundation for what we now endeavor to preserve – The Pollinator Paradise at the Birchwood Butterfly Ranch.

Your adoption of Red Bench and Outpost trails contributes to the forest part of the Pollinator Paradise. The trees act as a windbreak making it easier on the Monarch and other pollinators to move about in the field on the their daily quest for nectar and creates safe places to lay eggs. During windy rainy days the Monarch can be found hiding in the Aspen just on the edger of the field. Often times, so many congregate it looks as though branches have turned orange.

Red bench trail is named so because there’s a red bench on the top ridge overlooking looking lowland areas to the north and south. Sit long enough and you’ll see a mama deer and her two fawns amble by on their way to see what’s to eat in the Pollinator Paradise.

Outpost trail is named for the road to which it connects. This is where you’ll find the gate to come in. Walk as quietly as you can. The wild turkey love to travel this trail on their way back to roost.

The trails may not be where all of the critters and action happens but the are an integral part of keeping the Pollinator Paradise accessible to us humans and the forest through which they wind is a great protector. Your adoption of the trails helps to preserve this access and the forest on which so many critters around the Butterfly Ranch depend.

Fern Gully is the home to Cougar Pass. A place where Danielle had one of her near death experiences. More on that later.

Nestled in the northern most corner of The Pollinator Paradise is a giant patch of fiddlehead ferns and wild bergamot. For some reason we’ve yet to discern the wild turkey of the forest seem to love hiding in this patch of ferns. They wait for an unknowing hiker to amble by and burst from the ferns just ahead of you. They’re Skeksy prehistoric heads blue with rage at the idea you would intrude on their fern time.

This is also the area where in the spring time you’ll find the migrating woodcock just back from Louisiana. They don’t stay long but if you’re luck, you’ll find a lonely male doing his sky dance at the edge of the field hoping he jumps high enough to attract a feathered female. This is also where you’ll find the resident drumming ruffed grouse. If you feel a thundering thump bouncing off your chest and drumming in your ear that’s our guy.