The Dance of the Summer Butterflies

With the passing of the seasonal rains, spring bids adieu to theflowering mountains and commences its departure as summer rollsin to occupy the void spring leaves—bringing with it more rains andtheir accompanying natural symphonies.

In May, Yangmingshan National Park tranquilly begins to change.The Milkweed Butterflies descend upon the park. As the local flora—Eupatorium shimadai, Angelica dahurica, Sambucus chinensis, andCirsium japonicum among others—prosperously bloom, Mt. DatunMountain proffers an ideal resting spot for these special guests.

Butterflies of all kinds flutter about dancing as resplendent figures inthe skies of blue and the leaves of green. Among the crowd is the everpopular Blue Tiger. Despite its fragile frame, it is of the same itinerantnature as migrant birds and journeys northward or southward inconcert with the changing seasons. In summer, they elegantly ridethe air currents or feast on the abundant nectars in droves—oftenenveloping entire trees.

Every year during the months from May to July, the YangmingshanNational Park Headquarters organizes a series of events—collectivelycalled, The Butterfly Festival—inviting the public to enjoy thisparadisiacal summer spectacle of colorful butterflies.

• upper：The Dance of the Summer Butterflies / Tsai Dong-Chin