The Butterfly Whisperer
EDITOR: “They don’t realize, that’s not a weed!” Plantain, fennel, nettles, milkweed and goldenrod are often seen as ugly pests in our landscapes, but they attract something beautiful – butterflies – which rely heavily on these plants for food and a place to lay their eggs. This was but one lesson I learned from Louise Hallberg, “The Butterfly Lady” from Graton, who passed recently after a century on the planet.
I first met Louise on the phone about 12 years ago as she relayed the weather numbers to me (I’m head of production at Sonoma West Times & News). After that, every Monday, after the weather numbers were announced, she would talk with me for 15 to 20 minutes about her garden and all the troubles and triumphs of it. I visited her privately a dozen times since, and a visit was often a long walk in the garden, she explaining everything as we went.
I got a huge kick out of Louise because of her ever present low chuckle, because she was so smart and generous and cared so much about wildlife. I looked up to a woman who was very short, wore a huge floppy sun hat, and shuffled along while we walked in her garden together, she showing me the interesting chrysalises of the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly, which rely on the Dutchman’s Pipevine host plant.
She seemed always cheerful and sporting a permanent grin and had a constant sense of wonder in her voice. When she did say something that bothered her, and mostly this meant anything that flew in the face of preserving nature, she would pause and say, “I just don’t know.” The only time the smile left her face was while she talked about her concern that overdevelopment and climate change were decimating the populations of pollinators, the butterflies and bees.
Of all the hours I talked with her, nature was often the subject, and the times I tried to change the subject, she would bring it back because that’s what was important to her. I once mentioned Donald Trump as president and she said “Ugh! How can anyone want that man in office! I just don’t know,” and in a beat, we were again talking about the population of quail on her property, and the latest antics of the squirrels, the sighting of a great horned owl, the swifts making a nest in her chimney, and of the many duties she and her stewards of the garden had to do.
Despite that her sight and hearing failed her greatly in the last few years, the sharpness of her mind and the devotion to duty to record the weather and the butterfly counts and to keep the garden going were stronger than ever. She was the busiest 90-something I have ever seen.
On my last visit to her garden, she was too frail to walk with me outside, but she insisted I go alone and follow a certain path until it came to an open space. The sun was going down, creating long shadows as I came to the place she mentioned. It was very quiet. As I looked around I smiled at the glorious scene I witnessed. Perhaps 20 large butterflies, many of them Pipevines, fluttered about me, some of them flying close to me as if to check me out. I couldn’t help but put my hand out and let one try to land there. I stood there in awe as time seemed to stop. It was one of the most peaceful moments of my life. I will never forget that moment, or the wonderful lady who gave it to me.
Jim Schaefer
Santa Rosa
Peacetown
EDITOR: Thank to all who came out and enjoyed our first “1st Sunday Lovefest in Peacetown” at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center. It was a real three ring circus, with laughing, singing and dancing; live local music in both the annex and the main hall and good vibes all around. The citizens of Peacetown showing up makes it happen, and you showed up in droves on a cold nasty afternoon, to share your love with your friends and neighbors. This love thing sure feels good.
A huge thank you to all the musicians who were paid far less than their considerable talents deserve, but nonetheless put on a fantastic show and received a ton of love from the admiring and gyrating audience. Thanks to Diana Rich and the Sebastopol Community Center who provided the entire grounds of SCCC for this party. Thank you to our city council members who came out to be with the beautiful citizens of our town, and who are always open to listening.
Much gratitude goes to my dear Love Choir, who love singing to and serving the community during these events. And to Deborah Phillips of BeeKind for her generous sponsorship that made this event possible.
Peacetown is a grand experiment to see what happens when folks are invited to experience “Love in Action.” When we look to the best in others, we find the best within ourselves. If the first “1st Sunday” is any indication, that experiment has already increased the vibration of the Evolution Revolution. Let’s keep seeing the good, the holy and the beautiful. The best is yet to come.
All of those lucky enough to have been at the 1st Sunday are responsible to bring two new friends on April 2 to the party. Those of you who missed it, do not miss it on Sunday, April 2 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Sebastopol Community Center. Check for bands and schedule at peacetown.org. Y’all made this old hippie happy.
Jim Corbett
Sebastopol
