Sunday, September 28, 2014

Hot, sunny with peak fall colour


Best weekend ever – hot, sunny with peak fall colour!  Gorgeous Saturday full of family canoe trips, kayaking, sailing, SUPing, hiking and yes, even swimming!


Sunday, September 14, 2014

Early September at Arowhon Pines


Last night's temperature dipped to almost freezing and we all woke to a frosty morning.  With the mist still on the lake, some brave souls still went for a swim.  Autumn is a favourite time of year for many, with crisp, clear nights, great for star gazing and sunny days, perfect for hiking and spending time on the lake.  The leaves have started to change and the Arowhon Road is listed as among the best places for spectacular autumn views!  Visit the Park fall colour graph at  www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/general_park_info/fall-colour-report.php

There is still availability in the fall including Thanksgiving Weekend to enjoy with your family and friends.  Click for reservations. 
 We look forward to welcoming you! 



Monday, September 1, 2014

Bon Voyage Butterflies!


It was with mixed emotions that I tagged my butterfly today and let her go.  I was happy to watch her climb to the tops of the trees then later, free fall to feed on the sunflowers.

I loved seeing them as caterpillars too, ravenously munching on Algonquin milkweed.  In the blink of any eye they became cocoons, before morphing magically into these beauties.

Arowhon Pines became a monarch way station last year as part of www.monarchwatch.org.  We reared and tagged 19 butterflies.  This year there were 180 caterpillars!  So far 160 butterflies have been tagged and now they are setting out on their journey to Mexico!  The rest will be hatching soon!

The most heartwarming of all was to see everyone, guests and staff, both young and young at heart, enjoying the experience.

A BIG heartfelt thank you to Donna who researched all of this, and whose genuine enthusiasm, patience and hard work made this a huge success!


Bon Voyage Butterflies!

P.S.  As happy that I was seeing the monarchs, I could not help feeling a little angry, sad and ashamed that something like Monarch Watch has to exist at all.  We’ve cut down their habitat, mainly milkweed and poisoned their environment.  Did you know that last year was the poorest on record for monarch sightings in Mexico, where they roost for the winter?  What of our brown bats too whom we have not seen for years?  Do you remember the barn swallows that used to live in the rafters of our dining room verandah?  They too have disappeared from here.