June 21, 2015

The sights and sounds of the Lakes Region this week were those of chrome and the thrum of the V-twin as the annual migration of motorbikes passed through the area.

Meredith, and the Harley-Davidson dealer is a key attraction for the herd.

The Laconia motorcycle rally is the third largest in the country, behind Sturgis and Daytona, though it's older than both of them, dating from 1924.  It attracts riders from all parts of the country and a wide variety of mechanical machines.  I had to drive to Center Harbor on Saturday, so I stopped to catch a few sights. 

Back home away from the highways it was much more peaceful;  the gentle brush of a butterfly is somehow a bit more relaxing.  I noted a couple of weeks ago that the summer wildflowers were blooming, and this has drawn the butterflies to their summer homes.

White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis)

This White Admiral butterfly started with the daisies;  I was surprised when it set down on a hemlock tree.

I thought it was just resting for a moment, but then it unfurled its proboscis and started to suck some sort of tree nectar from the where the needles attach to the branches.

Rolling out its proboscis

It sat in one spot and reached here and there with its feeding tube to tap into whatever tiny drops of sustenance it could find.

A few of the wetland flowers around Lake Wicwas are still blooming as well;  these may be visited by bees, but I haven't noticed butterflies on them.

Larger Blue Flag

Sheep Laurel

If you take a trip around the shores of the local lake you are bound to see these two flowers (the Blue Flag grows mostly in marshy areas).

On a run through the Hamlin-Eames-Smyth conservation easement I met up with the Meredith Conservation Commission "Tuesday Trail Crew" maintaining the trails again.  This time they were cutting back the eager young trees - mostly maple and witch hazel - that continually push new branches out into the trail in search of sunlight.  They were also doing bridge maintenance, and addressing any other items in need of attention.

Jim Gregoire and Don MacFarlane of the Meredith Conservation Commission "Tuesday Trail Crew"

We can't thank these great volunteers enough for all they do to protect this valuable resource and make it accessible to all of us.  They are always looking for more volunteers to help out;  you can contact them at Conservation@Meredithnh.org if you would like to help.  Here is just one of the hundreds of creatures you will find if you visit these trails.

Eastern Newt (Red Eft phase)

On Saturday evening if you were outside with a view to the west you were treated to neat coalescence of three astronomical bodies:  Jupiter, Venus, and the moon.

Jupiter is upper-most of the three.  I savored the cosmic display while being serenaded by the tender drone of the V-twin Harley.