Fall is Blooming on SPI

We all eagerly await that first cool northern breeze of the fall. The long summer is always peak fun, but we are left totally drained by the relentless heat. Our sizzling skin yearns for cool relief as we drag our dehydrated, raisin-like bodies into the promise of a new season ahead. September rain is a blessing after a scorching August. It quenches the thirst of the trees and plants in the gardens. Deep roots have their much-needed drink, but steam fogs the brain and lenses. The body and spirit are tired, out of breath, and need freshening up. Finally, the cool north breeze of October arrives and it’s like wind to one’s sails! It is so as well to the millions of migratory birds and thousands of migratory Monarch butterflies that utilize the northern breeze as a tail wind to quickly and efficiently travel south to their fall and winter ranges.

The South Padre Island Birding Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary’s wetlands and native gardens create an increasingly important migratory rest stop for these tired and hungry birds and butterflies migrating along the Texas coast and October is the most beautiful time to enjoy them on site. Colorful migratory birds, flowers, and butterflies grace everywhere you turn, and the crispness of the air and the softer sunlight uplifts the spirit.

The bright yellow flower heads of the

Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) bloom mostly after the fall rains and lay a seasonal highway of nectar that encourages the southern migration of Monarchs along the Gulf Coast. Neotropical migratory warblers arriving on the island completing the first half of their journey coming from breeding sites in the tall coniferous and deciduous forests of the far north on their way to South American jungles also enjoy the goldenrod blooms and delight in the small insects and nectar that the flowers provide. This synchronous bloom is one of the wonders of the fall season on SPI that not only nourishes the migration but also creates a feast for the eyes. Viewing and photographing butterflies and birds in the golden blooms is like a sacred experience that imprints the season in one’s memory.

The Crucita (Chromolaena odorata) in our gardens is also a holy plant for all the fall pollinators. Its scent and soft puffy mist flowers are beacons that pull any pollinator within radius. No pollinator can resist its rich nectar. One can be entertained for days just by standing next to one and watching the butterflies flutter in for a visit.

Many other species are also blooming red, blue, purple, white, and pink flowers in the series of garden beds strung along the property. There are flowers for any kind of pollinator preference and liking! The gardens are at their fluttering and buzzing peak in one big energetic bloom before the darkness of winter.

In celebration of this gorgeous season on the island, the SPIBNCAS invites everyone to the

annual “HalloWings Monarch Migration Celebration” on Sunday, October 26^th from 11am to 5pm. The celebration is FREE to the public and will showcase a variety of local musicians, offer native plant sales, tours, and presentations, and will feature local vendors, face painting, educational crafts for kids, and sandcastle building lessons by Sandy Feet Sandcastle Services. A perfect way to enjoy the best of the fall and witness the magic of migration with the whole family and learn how to create valuable migratory rest stops in your spaces!

To learn more visit spibirding.org under the Events Hub tab.

Photos and Text by:

Naturalist Educator, Javier Gonzalez