1067. Snowflakes Turn to Butterflies Again! (8)
Richmond, RI

Since the coronavirus pandemic is still keeping us home in RI and not yet able to get these stamps of connecticut croaker’s back to CT, we decided that we might as well plant them again for at least another couple of weeks in RI. The place that we first thought of to plant them this time was where we had planted our original “Grass Pond” letterbox back in early 2003, followed soon thereafter by a “Birthday Blossoms to Butterflies” letterbox that we had planted for Laurette’s birthday - #32 and #75 on our old box index, for those who might have once noticed such things;-)

Anyway, that “Blossoms to Butterflies” stamp of mine was probably the best bit of “original art“ that I ever carved, and seeing connecticut croaker’s butterfly snowflakes had put me in mind of checking on it. Unfortunately, as has happened several times before when other people have added boxes later on to places where we first planted, our original boxes seem to have “disappeared”, even when we thought they were hidden in spots that would not likely be found by accident. So, we hope that people will be extra careful with these butterflies on temporary loan so that they can all fly back safely to CT soon, and not go “missing” like my earlier bugs and butterflies did (although we did find Laurette’s chewed up grasshopper box, which we hope to replace soon!;-)

Now, to quote from our previous clues, Grass Pond Preserve protects a special RI ecosystem - a coastal plain quagmire that is home to many relatively rare insects including the bog copper butterfly, the pine barrens bluet, the elfin skimmer, and the ringed boghaunter. Because of its fragility, the pond itself is generally off-limits to the public (except for occasional guided walks), but these “butterflies” can be found along the 1.4 mile yellow-blazed “kite loop” starting from the trailhead on Wilbur Hill Road, which can be found by going about 2 miles east on route 138 from exit 3 off I-95, then 1/2 mile south on route 112, and then another 1/2 mile east. Parking is just along the side of the road here.

Continue walking now past the gate straight onto the grassy lane with map kiosk and bench left to the next bench ahead on the right. From there, take 10 steps at 150* and look under a small flat stone and stick between two larger rocks that are behind a low flat table rock with a mossy green tablecloth. Here we left a lock n’ lock box containing a pink ink pad to borrow for stamping these butterflies along the loop if you do not have pink ink of your own. Just make sure to return the pink ink pad when you come back here to sign the logbook after completing the series!

The rest of the butterflies are in small black pouches placed as follows: 2) Yellow-blazed trail turns left at stone-decorated boulder. Continue to blazed 2-trunk tree close to trail on left. Under sticks behind east side of 2-tree on right, about 8 steps off trail.

3) Find another yellow blazed 2-tree ahead on left. Left side of licheny rock to left of tree under licheny sticks.

4) Up small rise and sharp left at double yellow blaze. 20 steps on trail and look under stone behind 2-tree on right , about 6 steps off trail.

5) Cross stone wall and turn right along wall 3 steps. Look under small rock at base of wall under pine needles.

6) Continue to bottom of “kite” and turn right uphill. Go left with double blaze near top for 22 steps to backside of 3-tree located 6 steps off trail on right.

7) Go up steepest pitch of small hill to leveling with small ledge to left. Look under reddish stone behind single tree 8 steps off trail to right.

8) Continue to sharp left turn in a slight dip at the top of “kite”. Look about 1’ right of tall snag with double yellow blaze under the flat stone beneath the pointy part of the low mossy ledge that is part of the stone all.
Now just finish up the “kite”loop and continue straight along the “string” to a right turn at the stone-decorated boulder, drop off the pink ink pad and sign the logbook in the box by the bench, then return to your car that you can see ahead!

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