Ironwood Carnegie Library holds story time at Miners park

By JEAN NORDINE

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Ironwood - "Ten Magic Butterflies" was the chosen book for the Carnegie Library's story time Thursday afternoon. What made the event special was its location in the Miners Memorial Heritage Park.

Library volunteer Lauren Noren, accompanied by Range Master Gardener Sharlene Shaffer, led a group of 16 children and 10 adults through the winding Sisu Lower Ridge Trail until they arrived at the newly created butterfly garden.

Before entertaining the group with the reading, Noren explained the process of how butterflies lay their eggs which turn into hanging chrysalis and eventually hatch.

After listening intently to "Ten Magic Butterflies" the children were delighted to make their own butterflies.

Sixteen beautifully crafted butterflies were created from large coffee filters, painted and tied together with a bright pipe cleaner.

Shaffer was the driving force in creating the butterfly garden. Special care has been taken to plant plants specific to a monarch butterfly's preferred area to lay eggs.

Monarchs travel through the area on their way to Canada early in the summer, before making the long trek back to Mexico in September.

Although no monarchs were seen during story time, Shaffer explained that there have been 10 more sightings recorded this recording period than before.