I stepped into the screened enclosure not knowing what to expect. Flowering plants were everywhere – all colors – and the fluttering of the orange wings of monarch butterflies filled the space around me. It was warm on this late summer morning, not yet at the day’s peak of heat, and it was a perfect moment, a feast for both my eyes and heart.

I’ve always had an affinity for monarchs. Perhaps that’s because they were commonly seen in my home state of California while I was growing up. Sadly, for my granddaughter and others, the joy of seeing a monarch in flight or poised delicately on a flower is a rarer event than it used to be.

When I was a kid in coastal Northern California, a “butterfly tree” graced a fern-filled hollow in our small town. It was secret and special, something my friends and I happened upon by chance one day.

In the heart of a small eucalyptus forest, this particular tree was a seasonal destination for monarch butterflies, and their presence turned its gray-green leaves to orange in late fall. It was where every fifth generation of these migrating creatures came to roost for the winter. They beautifully decorated the tree for months, covering it completely, hanging in silent diapause until early spring when they’d become active again to breed.

With this in mind, you can imagine how delightful it was for me to experience the many dozens of monarchs flitting about when I stepped into the protected butterfly pavilion at the Elkton Community Education Center in rural Oregon.

Amazingly, Elkton, a town of just 180 residents, has developed and sustains a valuable resource not only for their community, but for any who pass through on their way to and from the Oregon Coast.

The Elkton Community Education Center (or the ECEC, as it’s called there) has been in existence for 25 years, with a cluster of buildings that house a butterfly research room, a seasonal café, a community library, an office, and a gift shop.

The butterfly pavilion sits just behind the research room, and down the hill in a meadow near the Umpqua River is a replica of Fort Umpqua, once the southernmost fur trading outpost for the Hudson Bay Company.

In addition, a native plant nursery provides flora (such as rhododendrons) for purchase, and a shaded path meanders through a garden of local native plants. And, finally, as if all that weren’t enough, a small amphitheater provides a space for outdoor events.

The ECEC was the brainchild of Carol Beckley, a 97-year-old retired teacher from one of Elkton’s pioneering families. Beckley’s goal was to create a place for native plant education and propagation, as well as to provide summer employment for Elkton’s teens. Both causes are near and dear to Beckley’s heart, and both have been achieved through the Center.

Beckley's involvement is not just part of a past legacy. I was told that she still comes to the center to, among other things, pull weeds.

With 43 acres of donated land from Beckley and the support of a community, the ECEC was born. The butterfly pavilion and breeding center were established later (13 years ago, to be specific) as a way to attract visitors.

I was there that morning to meet Barbara Slot, a retired wildlife biologist and long-time volunteer for the ECEC’s butterfly breeding program. When I arrived, she was deftly plucking butterflies from plants to tag and release. After placing a small, numbered circle on a wing, the butterfly was released into the air outside the pavilion with a dramatic upward fling of Slot’s hand. If all goes well, they'll release more than 700 butterflies this season, a record for the Center. The previous release record was 550.

Both monarch and painted lady butterflies are bred and released there; however, because I arrived late in the season, it was mostly monarchs in the flight room, as the pavilion is called. Painted lady butterflies begin to emerge in May, with monarchs a bit later.

Eggs for the painted lady butterflies are ordered and delivered through the mail; however, there are rules that prevent such transactions with monarch eggs for the protection of the species. Instead, milkweed is planted near the pavilion to attract the egg-laying butterflies. Once laid, the eggs are collected and brought to the butterfly research room to await the appearance of caterpillars.

Since milkweed is the only plant on which monarchs lay eggs (and on which the caterpillars feed), planting it in public spaces and home gardens is crucial for the continued presence of the species. Much of the decline of the monarch population is due to loss of this habitat.

Slot later took me into the research room, where rows of clear plastic cups, each housing a monarch caterpillar, stood on a series of shelves. Once a chrysalis is formed, it's taken to the pavilion to await the emergence of a butterfly.

It was my first time seeing a monarch chrysalis, and I was awestruck by the jade-like appearance. They were like pieces of jewelry, complete with occasional spots of what looked like gold. Magically, the chrysalis turns a translucent black as the butterfly develops. At this stage, the monarch's signature black, orange, and white patterned wings can be seen.

I learned so many things on this visit, including how to differentiate between male and female monarchs (it's all about the spots on their wings) and that when a caterpillar is ready to become a chrysalis, its body, which is attached (typically) to a leaf, becomes J-shaped. The caterpillar body is then discarded and the chrysalis emerges. (We missed by seconds the drop of one caterpillar's body because we were looking in the other direction.) I'm grateful for the time the very knowledgeable Barbara Slot spent with me.

The ECEC, which is located on Scenic Byway 38 (which is a beautiful drive along the Umpqua River) is open year-round; however, butterflies are only available for viewing in the flight room from June through September. Since the butterfly population varies from year to year, it's best to call the Center to check on their status before heading out there. They can be reached at (541) 584-2692.

For more information on the butterfly program or to find out about activities and events at the Center, visit their website at https://ElktonButterflies.com.

Orange and black wings
Flutter now in elegance
My heart gently sings