lasatx,

Yes, they sure are amazing. She was hitting up every milkweed even though the wind was just awful.....it kept pushing her back. Several times she just sat on the mulch to rest before starting back up. To keep laying in that wind she must have been desperate to get done too.

The wind has been awful here, too, Rhonda! I had a newly planted Salvia 'Amistad' that's top heavy, and the winds blew it over and broke it. There are some branches left near the bottom - oh, well, it'll grow back!

Congrats on the eggs that fearless monarch left you!

Sherry

It has been breezy here, but not as windy as you two have had it. I just had to be careful with the container I was placing my eggs in. And while I was out today, I caught my first sighting of a faded and tatttered. She left some eggs here even as I was collecting others. I had to come in and change to go meet some friends for dinner, so I was doing a recount when we got home. I kept coming up short on the ones I collected yesterday and then I noticed the tiniest little Monarch cat I think I have ever seen sitting on the floor of the container -- completely off the leaf. I plucked a leaf and set it down. Took a minute, but he crawed onto it andd should be fine. This part stresses me out. I have over 60 eggs and there are parts of the yard I haven't gotten to. I could easily have 100 or more. I am seriously worried about having enough milkweed -- even after planting more. And the butterflies keep coming!

Rhonda, thank you for sharing your wonderful photos. Poor little thing. I'm like Sherry, heartbreaking to see them when they're nearing the end of their life. Under very trying circumstances, she has fulfilled her purpose and that is to be admired.

Mary

Sherry,

Sorry to hear about your Amistad. Don't remember if I told you but I picked up 5 a little over a week ago...1 gallon pots for $5.99, I was very pleased. Mine aren't super tall yet so they have held up so far.

lascatx,

Sounds as if you're going to have lots of monarchs...congrats!

Mary,

Thanks for the kind words. I'm looking forward to many monarch cats and butterflies.

Today a ragged male spent lots of time in the garden, he particularly liked the popcorn cassia.

I added a couple nice-sized butterfly bush yesterday and this ragged
male monarch wasted no time in stopping to taste the nectar......and he stayed for almost an hour. I hope I have better
luck with the BB here than I did further North in Florida where the
nematodes always got them.

Rhonda