The Happy Butterfly Landings

In my previous entry on Monarchs, (I Need to Get Out More) I mentioned how we had had them visit over the years, but this year they snuck up on me. I saw the milkweed every day, but forgot to notice what nature was up to.

This is what I saw from our living room.. right outside the window, hanging from the eave was a newly emerged Monarch butterfly.
What a lovely view it gave us.
Caused me to step out and see.. knew we had a few out there but...?
















Looking out the same window you can see all these spindly stalks that used to be full of green leafery.... milkweed that had been stripped clean by catepillars. Humm.. if there was that much milkweed eaten in a few short days, then there must be some cocooning action going on.















Outside, a view of the remains of the feast.

















Here are a few of the chrysali.... we counted 40+ hanging from our eaves and patio furniture.















And here on my dh's beloved BBQ is a newly emerged monarch. It is so fun to step out and have them flutter around you. They are also neat to watch as they are trying their new wings. The most we have counted flying at one time is four.