September 2000
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I've been in Pacific Grove for more than 25
years and have often heard about the Butterfly Trees; but have never seen
them. There is no such tree that is known as a Butterfly Tree. However,
there is a Butterfly Bush, and having planted one in Pacific Grove I can
testify that they are indeed quite beautiful shrubs. The so-called Butterfly
Trees in Pacific Grove are found on a path off Ridge Road [Intersection
of Ridge Road & Lighthouse Avenue near 17 Mile Drive]. It surprised
me to find out that they are actually Eucalyptus trees which appear to
be a couple hundred feet tall.
(Left, Lighthouse & Ridge Road sign) Update 02-21-2001: I went back to the Butterfly Trees but was unable to see any butterflies in the trees but I did see a few floating around. There was also a docent present on the bench. |
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To find these trees, take Lighthouse Avenue
west from Forest Avenue to where it intersects 17 Mile Drive and then proceed
west about 200 yards and you'll come to Ridge Road. At the intersection
of Lighthouse & Ridge Road you'll see a sign pointing to where the
trees are located. Follow Ridge Road for about 200 feet and you'll
then want to park and you should see a sign on the southwest side of Ridge
Road that indicates where the Butterfly Trees are.
(Left, sign on Ridge Road directing to the Butterfly Trees) |
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Follow the path for a couple hundred feet
and you'll see a large two sided kiosk sign that has descriptions of the
trees & the butterflies. Near the south of this sign is a very large
group of very tall Eucalyptus trees that sit in a long, thin row. As it's
only September, I did not see any butterflies. On the kiosk sign it says:
'Where are the butterflies?' And the answer they give is: 'Look high
in the trees.' Due to the placement of the path, the fences and the
height of where the branches begin of these Eucalyptus trees, it appeared
to be near impossible to get anywhere near the butterflies themselves,
that is, if there were any butterflies.
(Left, Monarch Butterfly trees (Background) & the information kiosk) |
| Right now the only pictures we have are the
trees themselves. When we have a large count of Monarch Butterflies
in October or perhaps in February when the weather is better for them we
shall return and take some photos of the Monarch Butterflies clustering
on these Eucalyptus trees, known as "The Butterfly Trees."
(Right, Sanctuary Path sign)
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After viewing the Butterfly trees, visit the Monarch Cafe, on Fountain
Avenue. Home style food, family run and the locals hang out here.
Some of the best food & prices & butterfly information in Pacific
Grove can be found here. The inside is light & airy and handicap
accessible and there is parking next door.
Be sure to mention to the server & the cook that you read about them at pacificgrove.com Just take Ridge Road back to Lighthouse, turn Right (East), stay on
Lighthouse until you reach Fountain Avenue (About a half mile), turn right,
go about 200 feet and you'll be at the Monarch Cafe. They are open 8am
to 2:30pm Monday through Friday and until 1:30 on Saturday, closed Sunday.
The Pacific Grove Public Library & Pacific Grove Museum of Natural
History are within a half block of this restaurant.
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