Four in the garden this afternoon. On a cloudy, calm day, it sure seems strange to have this many monarchs on this date. Clearly, they are late in migrating.
Today our last monarch was set to emerge from its chrysalis, but it only managed a tiny edge of one wing. I presume it's dead by now, or will be shortly. It led a strange life, not eating for many days before it went "J", then when it did go the chrysalis, as the caterpillar, was undersized.
So, to the garden to find monarchs--and other insects--which will see us through the week and into a four day weekend (viva academic jobs and their fall breaks).
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| Seeing Triple |
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| Synchronized Feeding |
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| Male Monarch by Phallic Liatris Seed Head |
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| Painted Lady on Aster Tataricus |
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| Bees on Solidago |
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| Jeff Goldblum |
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| Sunflower Seeds |
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| Indian and Switch Grass at Dusk |
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| Snow Crocus in Fall |
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| Medusa Verbena |
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| Gratuitous (Gorgeous) Monarch Pic |
11 comments:
Benjamin,
WOW on the aster and Monarch photos! Not too late, they have likely stalled a few days. I think October 15th is about the end of them.
Wow. Goldblum's aging well, isn't he?
I was visited for the first time by a Monarch yesterday. I was more excited than I would have been if a human monarch had come by! I have hopes that I will see many more next season.
I saw a monarch laying eggs this year, but no caterpillars. My asters are full of honeybees right now.
Great pictures, Benjamin, very focused. You've given some great ideas for flowers to plant in my yard to attract those beautiful Monarchs. Only saw one in my yard this year, and it didn't stick around.
Randy--Folks at Monarch Watch are seeing fewer mgrating, and suspecting a late migration. Odd year.
Mr. S.--You call that aging well?
Ginny--Many more human monarchs? Or regular monarchs? Hmmm?
Adrian--Yes, tons and tons of honeybees. I'd love to trace them back to the hive. Someday?
Lynne--Monarchs love purple dome aster, swamp milkwees (of course), and liatris ligulystilis (I may have not spelled that right). Also, ironweed and joe pye weed get them in. Those 5 plants are def. heads above other ones.
What a beautiful place! It is always a joy when butterflies are attracted to my garden. The asters are a real magnet for them. I planted asters last year for the first time, but they grew tall and floppy and weedy looking. I was thinking about pulling them up until the butterflies started coming. Next year I plan to cut them back in June, and maybe that will help with the floppiness.
Jeff Goldblum. ROFL!
Great pics of the Monarchs and other lesser regals...
Ahhh...you're so lucky with all the flutterbys...we have so few around there. I LOVE the Verbena, it's crazy-awesome!
A nice crescendo before the inevitable change.
DG--No don't pull that up! I've started tieign them together in August. It helps some.
Kris--Thank you kindly, ma'am.
Scott--I set you some butterflies vis FedEx. Did you get them? Someone signed for them.
Les--Indeed, sir....
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