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News From the Griffith Junction Butterfly Stop! 

 The Superfantastical Monarch Journey 

The monarch butterflies fluttering about aren’t just casual flutterers. They are the  last to be born in 2025, and they are ‘super monarchs.’  

Right now, they are busy sipping up nectar they, so as to build up fat reserves in  their bodies. You see, these particular butterflies were born to do a seemly  impossible job. 

They, and millions of other super monarchs, fly 1200 miles to a fir tree  forest in central Mexico between August and November. And the continuation of their existence in the  northeastern states depends upon their safe arrival. 

These butterflies do have some ‘super powers’ to help them accomplish their  task. 

– Because of this journey, a super monarch will live far longer than the 2 to  5 weeks normal monarch butterflies do.  
– These butterflies are born with larger wings and are capable of flying 50 to  100 miles in a single day, weather permitting.  
– It is believed they were born with an internal sun compass or magnetic  compass to guide them to Central America. 
– They can fly at speeds of 5 to 25 miles an hour for 4-6 hours a day, gliding  on currents of warm air called thermals, to conserve energy when possible.  

At the end of each day of their journey, the butterflies will seek out nectar from  the flowers to fuel their next-day trip. Once that is accomplished, they will spend  the night in trees, clustered together for protection.  

It will take the monarchs who leave from Indiana 5 to 7 weeks to make the trip to  that Mexican forest Oyamel fir tree forest.  

Once there, they, and millions of other super monarchs, will blanket the fir trees  for warmth and to conserve energy. Thereafter, they will enter a state of  dormancy, allowing them to survive the winter. 

We wish all these spectacular insects a safe trip.

🦋Join us in May 2026 to celebrate these incredible creatures at our 2nd Annual Butterfly Day at the Griffith Historical Park, featuring our Monarch Waystation, the Griffith Junction Butterfly Stop.

(If you come visit our Monarch Waystation at the Depot, we ask that you do so respectfully. Please don’t touch the plants, insects, or disturb the habitat in any way. Thank you!)

photos by Jeanette Bobos and Ken Krick

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Butterfly Day at the Depot!

🦋Join us to celebrate National Start Seeing Monarchs Day!
Visit Griffith’s very own butterfly garden, aptly named the Griffith Junction Butterfly Stop.
🦋 It’s the first anniversary of the garden, conceived and planted by Griffith Tri Kappa member Jeanette Bobos, and supported by the organization.
🦋May 4th is one day after National Start Seeing Monarchs Day, when America celebrates those beautiful, endangered orange and yellow creatures.

It will be a fun and interesting Sunday afternoon at the Griffith Historical Park, where:
🚂The Depot & Train Museums, and the Tower will be open to tour
🚂Our barrel train, the Hess Express, will be running
🦋Jeanette Bobos, the retired Master Gardner who planted our garden, will be on on hand to share her knowledge. We’ll have info on Monarchs and how they’ve become endangered.
🦋Kim Moor, from The Wild Ones, will be with us sharing information about adding native plants to your garden.
🌻Want plants to help butterflies, especially Monarchs? Through the courtesy of Scheeringa Farms, we’ll have a small selection of milkweed plants; black-eyed Susans, Griffith Centennial’s flower in 2004; plus some Heirloom Plants, as well.
🍪Girl Scout Troop 15620 will be selling cookies, lemonade, and butterfly clips.
🌭The Cub Scout Pack 622 and Boy Scout Troop 623 will be on hand with hotdogs, chips and pop.