After a long cool and wet Spring, Summer finally arrived. Of particular interest to us, it arrived a little after our Eden Valley Conference. It would be an understatement to say that we would have much preferred sunny and hot to the cool, cloudy and wet we had for the conference. However, the Okanogon landscape was just beautiful and the location could only have been more appealing with a blue sky backdrop. Eden Valley Ranch provided a lovely setting for our meetings and field trip departures. Dave Nunnallee oriented us to the butterflies of the area on Friday evening. Rain with thunder and lightning waited until just after we went to our accommodations but then put on a show. You hate to bring rain gear to a butterfly conference but in that moment we were glad we did.

Bob Hardwick gathered us for the Saturday morning field trip under grey skies and cool temperatures. With his trademark enthusiasm he took us to great butterfly spots on nearby Mount Hull, a place that should be a hotspot. If enthusiasm could change the weather Bob could do it but wet and cloudy and cool prevailed. Thank goodness for Colin Doan finding that first Common Alpine. The butterflying was slim so fungi and plant identification stepped up from time to time to engage the intrepid gang. The skies did improve a little late in the day when a hardy few continued to find some of the expected species. We changed to dry clothes and came together in good fellowship to a delicious meal Saturday evening where Dana Visalli presented an interesting and informative talk on the relationship of plants and butterflies and how each piece contributes in a unique way to form the complex puzzle of life.

Dave Nunnallee gathered us on Sunday morning, again under grey skies, for our field trip to Mary Anne Creek, another good Okanogan butterfly spot. This time ornithology stepped up to engage the group with several Wilson’s Snipes providing their aerial winnowing acoustic display – against grey skies – in the absence of butterflies. However, we quickly observed the resilience of butterflies as grey clouds parted for about 30 minutes and butterflies came out all around us to fly in the brief sun. One was a Great Spangled Fritillary, a very special species for all of us. It was the more wonderful to see one species after another rise up from beneath our feet after the preceding lack of activity – and then to see it go quiet again as the blue sky hole closed again.

Certainly, it was damp and grey and cool but we had a great time and it was wonderful conference. We will remember this one with affection. We enjoyed each other, we enjoyed a beautiful landscape, and each butterfly species we found was enjoyed especially. We learned of special butterfly places we will want to return to another time. Our special thanks go out to Joyce Bergen, our good venue scout and arranger, Al Wagar, our conference registrar and all around get-things- done guy, Bob Hardwick and Dave Nunnallee our field trip leaders and Idie Ulsh, who arranged for Dana Visalli to speak to us. Many others contributed in many ways to make it a success. Thanks to all who helped and all who attended. You are all such good sports and great company to spend a special weekend with.

We are already looking at sites for the 2013 Conference. If you have a suggestion for a good place send me an email or give me a call.

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