Date: 04/13/2008

Number: 1

Altus and I finally broke down and went on safari to see if
there were any wildflowers and any monarchs visiting them
in DeWitt County today. A few and many. The dry conditions
really has limited the number of wilflowers. We drove along
about eighty miles of back lanes and country roads that we've
known for decades and we were surprised at the amount of viridis, asperula, and oenotheroides that was evident but most of the other wildflowers have really just not appeared. BUT we saw "flocks" of faded to very faded monarchs still flying
SW-NE thru the county. In the "Valley of Monarchs", 12 miles NNE of Cuero, near Concrete, where Lincoln and I have visited before, 16 faded to very faded monarchs floated by just beyond arms' length in 41 minutes. We had miles to go but saw at least 20 more monarchs in the next three hours to the west of there that were on our side of the fence as we drove the lanes plus others that were flying in our pasture. The number for the afternoon was over three dozen
and then we lost actual count in the pasture ... that was
the shocker!!! http://asclepias.org/apr1308.html
The farther west of Cuero we went, the worse things got ...
found one first instar in the pasture, the only things green
there for mid April were the asperula and the trees.

Concrete, TX

Latitude: 28.8 Longitude: -97

Observed by: Harlen E.
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.