A Wild Butterfly Chase

On Saturday, a large lime-colored butterfly was racing around Janet’s Meadow in Green-Wood. I spent about fifteen minutes watching it zoom back and forth, across, and over the plants.

Just as I was about to give up on it ever alighting anywhere, it started briefly perching on Partridge Pea plants.

A Cloudless Sulphur/Phoebis sennae, if I’m not mistaken. Only the second time I’ve seen one. The fast movement is characteristic. These are usually a more southerly species, but occasionally reach further north.

I was so excited I named the cocktail I put together that evening a Clouded Sulphur, which was more or less a gin-elderflower margarita. Yes, the Clouded Sulphur is a more commonly seen species of butterfly locally, but I felt like I had to have that Clouded in the name: I did not strain out the lime zest and pulp. (Otherwise, it seemed to be an already existing cocktail called the Elderflower Gimlet.)