Date: 04/02/2012

Number: 1

Our weather here has been sunny and warm with strong southerly breezes the past few days

Still seeing many monarchs daily averaging about 25-30 a day. They just keep coming!!

Some appear to be in a hurry and others just gracefully glide in lazy circles about the yard.



During the weekday evenings we've noticed the monarchs playing in the verbena then soaring to the tops of our trees.

They land on the upper branches of our Live Oak and Cedar Elms that are still catching the remaining rays of the setting sun.

They stay there for awhile and then are back in the verbena repeating that pattern until sundown.

They appear to be roosting in the trees overnight.

The central Texas milkweed that grows wild is now visible along roadsides and in pastures.

It's beginning to appear everywhere and is growing rapidly.

Like everything else this yea. It's a bit early but our early rains and ample sunshine have really helped.



We've got about 80 plus caterpillars in various instar stages and have seen our first few chrysalises in the last few days.

Still seeing new eggs on our tropical milkweed and had some long visits from a few female monarchs this weekend.

One persistent female fought the strong breezes and made several passes in the bright sunshine trying to get to our milkweed.

It reminded me of a naval aviator trying to land on an aircraft carrier in rough seas she was a real trooper!!

She finally made it and made the rounds for 10-15 minutes.

Driftwood, TX

Latitude: 30.1 Longitude: -98

Observed by: Chuck
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