It's the time of year for seeing Monarchs and we've had one flitting around the garden for a few weeks now. So one day I went out to see if I could persuade it to sit still for a moment. As you probably know, we let a few Milkweed grow in our garden in the hopes that a passing Monarch will lay eggs and we'll see those distinctive caterpillars.
Mrs. F.G. kept track and here is one of her youngsters.
With the magic of zoom we see a little closer view, with those distinctive white, yellow and black stripes.
When I went out to try and get a picture of the butterfly in the back garden, I had to chase it. It kept flitting from blossom to blossom.
I got closer and closer shots, but it never did open those wings long enough for me to get a picture.
So I had to revert to an old image from a few years back. And lest there be any confusion, Monarch caterpillars can only feed on Milkweed, but mature butterflies feed on a range of blossoms. Obviously they really like the Coneflowers in our garden.
Just when you go to click, they flit.
ReplyDeleteThey are the ones that fascinate me so much, and I have always enjoyed seeing the chrysalis change colour then the butterfly emerge and start to unfold those wings. Milkweed, down here it can be called Swan Plant, they are very popular in the plant nurseries once the season gets warmer. Against the Pink Cone flower, lovely contrast.
ReplyDeleteMonarchs are such beautiful butterflies. We hardly ever see them in our area though :(
ReplyDeleteButterflies are so pretty.
ReplyDeleteI've only seen a couple of them so far this year. They are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteNice! I remember seeing them as a child in my mother's garden. I clearly don't grow the right flowers.
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