BUTTERFLY BLOCKBUSTER: If the celebrated Monarch butterflies, the migrating critters that call upon the Central Coast each wintertime, were to pen their own biographical movie — we're assuming they'd unselfishly go for shared credit on the screenplay — one can correctly guess some of the plot twists. Would there be some pleasant wing-warming moments? Might a eucalyptus tree make an appearance? And would all the flying protagonists start clearing out of their beloved groves right around the end of February, give or take a week or two? Okay, so yeah, we went and published a few major spoilers. But these cinematic reveals won't diminish the dazzling experience that is wintertime butterfly observation, an annual pastime many Californians look forward to with a passion and clarity of heart. After all, it is a peaceful pursuit, and one that can lift the mood, especially as winter descends. Pacific Grove's famous sanctuary will soon open, and the...
PISMO STATE BEACH BUTTERFLY GROVE... has its 2017 debut date, too. The season opener is on Saturday, Oct. 28, so briefly pause those pre-Halloween activities and consider some quiet reflective time, among the first arrivals, not far from the surf's edge. Special to-dos are ahead on calendar — A Brush with Butterflies is up on the following Saturday, Nov. 4 — but a daily visit will give most any visitor a heaping helping of wing-beautiful joy (an extreme claim, perhaps, but those Monarchs know how to bewitch we humans below). The daily hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but if you want to hear good info from a docent, be there at 11 a.m. or 2 o'clock for the tidbit-rich talks.
