"Pismo Beach salutes another winter migrant with a special celebration for California Western Monarch Day. The visitors bureau will serve cake and punch to the humans visiting the city's butterfly grove, which has hosted an average of 25,000 monarch butterflies over the last five years and holds twice-daily walks in season. The black-and-orange beauties also cluster in sites from Fremont to San Diego; see the website for details. 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, access from North Beach Campground, Highway 1, Pismo State Beach. (805) 773-7034, www.monarchbutterfly.org."

Published in the San Francisco Chronicle on  Sunday, January 30, 2011