Baltimore Checkerspot near Freelton, Ontario: July 2020

The beautiful Baltimore Checkerspot is about half the size of the more familiar Monarch Butterfly. They produce one brood and are seen from May – July.

Baltimore Checkerspot

Baltimore Checkerspots are found in wet meadows within woodlands.

Baltimore Checkerspot

The butterfly is named after George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, a 17th-century American colonist.

Baltimore Checkerspot

The orange and black colours match the colours on the heraldic shield of Lord Baltimore.

Baltimore Checkerspot

Other flyers:

Eastern Pondhawk (male)
Eastern Pondhawk (male)
Eastern Pondhawk (male)
European Skipper
European Skipper
Peck’s Skipper
Widow Skimmer (male)
Halloween Pennant Dragonfly
Virginia Ctenucha moth
Virginia Ctenucha moth
Ebony jewelwing
 Common Wood-nymph
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (male)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (male)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (male)

Thanks to Ken Sproule for assistance in identification.

Valens Lake, near Freelton, has extensive trails and boardwalks plus camping and swimming.

Lookout Tower
Fishing Bridge

Some botany:

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum giganteum)
Wild Leek (Allium tricoccum)
Eleberberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Crown Vetch (Securigera varia)
Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe)
St. John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Wild-basil (Clinopodium vulgare)
Fringed Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata)
Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea)
Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus utilis)
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Common Cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex)
Agrimony (Agrimonia gryosepela)
Indian-hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)
Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatis)
Common Milkweed (Ascelpias syriaca)

Freelton is named after its founder, Patrick Freel, who in 1840 built a hotel on the site. Freel’s brother-in-law, Thomas Campbell, also built a hotel in Freelton. He named it Central Hotel because it was equidistant from Galt, Guelph and Hamilton.

Catholic Church
Catholic Church
United Church

NATURE POETRY

Beyond me in the fields the sun
Soaks in the grass and hath his will;
I count the marguerites one by one;
Even the buttercups are still.     – Archibald Lampman (1861–99)

Miles Hearn

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