Idyllwild Nature Center to host the annual Butterfly Daze

The Idyllwild Nature Center will be hosting the annual Butterfly Daze
Saturday August 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Entry is free. The event is by
organized by Riverside County Parks and the Friends of the San Jacinto
Mountain County Parks. There will be a live butterfly tent with monarchs
and painted ladies. There will be a lecture at 11 a.m. by Bruce Edward
Watts, a local writer and photographer, who will also be showing his
photographs.

Watts will talk about identifying butterflies of the San Jacinto
Mountains and tells the Crier he is writing a book on the subject. “I
have 91 species in my book with about 70 or so being common up here.”
Watts includes among his personal favorites Monarchs, Swallowtails and
Melissa Blues. He has resided in these mountains for almost 48 years,
and his photographs are mostly taken here. He is also working on a book
on wildflowers.

The event will include story time, a story walk, face painting, a bounce
house, live music by Sandy Castleberry, and local vendors offering food
and crafts.

Idyllwild Nature Center, 25225 Hwy 243