Date: 09/18/2004

Number: 1

I started
seeing butterflies, (fritillaries, sulphurs, swallowtails, and monarchs). 4
of them had just emerged from the chrysalises on plants in my flower beds. I
watched as they unfurled their wings. I counted 43 monarch caterpillars
still on my milkweed plants after Ivan had passed. Five of them were really
small ones. The chrysalis on a water hose out in my yard was still attached
to the water hose. They must be attached good to withstand hurricane force
winds.

The butterflies and hummingbirds to be so small, are as tough as nails to be
able to go through hurricanes. They're not as delicate as I once believed
them to be.

Today I saw 3 monarchs emerge from their chrysalises. And have 5 more that
are on flower pots that are ready to emerge any day now. Been seeing
monarchs for at least 3 weeks or more in my yard and on the roads around
here. I've probably had over 100 monarch caterpillars here over the past
couple of weeks. Most of the leaves on the milkweeds have been eaten. But
they're starting to grow new leaves and stalks.

Contributed to Monarch Watch

State Line, MS

Latitude: 31.4 Longitude: -88.6

Observed by:
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