Amish School Monarchs

 We visited the Amish School near Plain City tonight to view the Monarch Butterflies. Landowners surrounding the school have planted fields of Clover...which attract the Monarchs as they prepare for their southward migration journey. As evening approaches, the Monarchs cluster together in the pine trees on the school property. Here's some views of the Monarchs and surrounding scenery.

As other Monarchs approach, the perched Monarchs flutter their wings.

The setting sun provided some beautiful backlit lighting.

Increasing numbers of Monarchs as dusk approaches.

Photographing the Monarchs.

Other folks photographing the sunset.

Sunset on the Clover fields.

Scene across the road.

September Aurora

 There were predictions that we could possibly see the Northern Lights last night so we and other several folks headed to the CJ Brown Visitor's Center point hoping to catch some views. The predictions didn't pan out as well as we had hoped...partially due to the very bright Waxing Gibbous Moon. We did catch some color on the horizon with some faint pillars at about 9:20 (visible only with long camera exposures), but that soon faded and concluded the show. Still, you can't beat chatting and sharing stories with like-minded folks under the Big Dipper and the September moonlit sky!