MONARCH DOMAIN

**Looking from the POV of Boulevard Lake.**

Adelaide Butterfly Garden

Fortunately, one of Thunder Bay’s newest attractions gets few visitors. Until now, at least. Kings and queens rule this little patch of Canada. Monarchs flutter by unfettered.

Someone told me about a Monarch hatchery last year, and I paid a visit then. Today, beautiful weather and temperature in mid-20s prompted a second visit.

The garden is the brainchild of Dan Fulton, who passed away last year, but not before this child was born. The garden was created in the spring and summer of 2018. It was conceived as a multi-purpose space, part public park, part demonstration garden, and part pollinator garden.

Adelaide Butterfly Park is located, aptly, at the bottom of Adelaide Street, Current River, overlooking Boulevard Lake. During my visit, several Monarch visited, as well as the odd Tiger Swallowtail and sundry moth-like creatures.

The Remembrance Wall was unveiled in June 2020 by Hospice Northwest. The Wall was designed by Luc Despres. People attach their messages to sculpted butterflies which appear to be ascending.

The park is a perfect place for meditation; one has to stand (or sit) perfectly still for long periods. Let the creatures come to you. Unless you are inclined to chase the pretty things; in that case, good luck. During my forty-minute meditation, no creature landed near me. That accounts for my not snapping a pretty close-up.