Wendy Park In Cleveland Becomes A Butterfly Forest Each Fall
By Nikki Rhoades|Published September 19, 2019
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Northeast Ohio is a super sweet destination, especially in the autumn. Our many farms, corn mazes, and family-oriented attractions draw in visitors from all over the state. However, annual instinct attracts one other visitor each autumn… the monarch butterfly! Believe it or not, this gorgeous critter stops by Cleveland around the first day of autumn, and they swarm the Cleveland Metroparks in search of nourishment. Today, we’re going to take a look at monarchs in Wendy Park. You’ll surely find yourself enchanted by their presence!
Each autumn, monarchs fly up to 60 miles across Lake Erie in search of the nourishment that prospers in Wendy Park.
Wendy Park on Whiskey Island is a lovely little lakefront park that locals absolutely adore. Each year, monarchs stop here circa the first day of fall in search of snacks like goldenrod. The park is easy to access, and for many monarchs its one of the first pieces of land encountered following their trek across Lake Erie.
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Thousands of monarchs visit Cleveland through mid-October as they embark on their annual trek to Mexico.
Birds are known to head south for the winter, but so, too, do butterflies. When they pass over Lake Erie, these lovely creatures often spend the night in The Land before they continue moving south, stopping in prairies along the way.
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When overnight storms are in the forecast, the monarch butterflies often hunker down in trees, meaning that you can often spot hundreds hanging out in places like Wendy Park.
When Canada experiences good weather, which many Clevelanders may identify as that "second summer" wave that seems to arrive as we approach fall, these winged beauties often head south. The opportunity to rest and refuel in the Cleveland Metroparks is integral in their journey.
Northbound butterflies have a life cycle of about four weeks. As a result, there can be up to four generations in a typical summer. Southbound butterflies, however, put their reproduction on hold and conserve fat to allow them to make the trek down south. Their lifespan is longer than their parents, grandparents, and great grandparents combined.
This incredible annual event is a must-see for nature lovers and photographers alike.
These pretty insects stop in other parks, meadows, and gardens to stock up on snacks to fuel their journey. You might even spot them in your own backyard!
However, swinging by Wendy Park during the migration is an experience like no other.
Address: 2800 Whiskey Island Drive, Cleveland, OH, 44102
Nature lovers adore spotting monarchs in Wendy Park and around Cleveland each autumn, and their rust-tinged hues add to the overall autumn atmosphere of the region. Have you ever witnessed crowds of monarchs in person? We’d love to hear about your experience and see any photos you have taken!
