Yes, there are Monarchs in Saline Valley in the winter! Not because it is warm; it isn’t. It gets down into the 30s at night in November and December. But, there is food, water, and shelter for them there. Monarchs overwinter in a few canyons in the valley that have perennial water and flowering plants. They feed on nectar-rich flowers such as the swamp willow (Brickellia longifolia var. multiflora) which was still blooming in late December this year. To count them, one has to get up in the dark and walk up to the mouth of a canyon by flashlight so as to be at the count location by daybreak. The Monarchs are dark triangle-shaped silhouettes in the tree tops against the light morning sky. It is a delight to see them. They won’t move until the air heats up to 55 degrees F. The count has to stop when they start moving around. If you are interested in participating in the count next year, mark your calendar for October and signup. Saline Valley Road is a rocky, dirt road that is rough on cars, but once you are there, there are dunes, canyons, and hot springs to check out along with the butterflies.