Among the Mariposa

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far in the San Diego region (with today forecast to get even warmer), and we decided to head out to the warmest section - Escondido, which sizzled at a record-breaking 96 degrees in the late afternoon. We braved the heat and gusty winds because Jane wished to see the annual springtime Butterfly Jungle at the Wild Animal Park, in which the walk-through Hidden Jungle Aviary is filled with tropical butterflies. Jane is a big fan of lepidoptera - I can think of at least two other Butterfly Jungles we've gone out of our way to walk though over the years, including a steamy indoor museum exhibit in Chicago and a larger permanent exhibit in Key West, Florida. While yesterday's exhibit wasn't as overflowing with butterflies as some of the others we've visited, there were still plenty of beautiful mariposa to flutter among the crowds.

Eventually, quite by accident, Jane was lucky enough to have a small, delicate butterfly land on her bare shoulder, no doubt looking for nectar. She reported the tiny feet to tickle and grip her skin stickily.

Jane couldn't compete, however, with the yellow-shirted man who found himself crawling with butterflies for nearly the entire duration of his walk through the gardens. And as the authorities were quite adamant about visitors not leaving the enclosure with any stray hitchhikers on board, he was still wandering around with his light cargo when we ducked out the side exit.