Date: 08/24/2012

Number: 1

Aug 24, Clarksburg, MD, Partly sunny with wind WNW at 3mph.

I walked through a field in one of our county parks to check the common milkweed. This field was mowed for hay in early July. The milkweed grew back and now has very tender leaves and the flowers are entering peak bloom. Needless to say, these flowers were getting a lot of butterfly attention. One flowerhead had 13 variegated fritillaries on it. Monarchs were also abundant and at least 3 females were laying eggs on the the tender milkweed leaves. On the way home, I saw numerous monarchs engaging in directional flight. I think this is the first time ever in this area that I have seen migrant monarchs while resident monarchs were laying eggs. This is a very strange year.

Wild nectar sources: dogbane (re-blooming), field thistle, red clover, white clover, daisy fleabane, blue mistflower, common boneset, swamp milkweed, NY ironweed, early goldenrod Garden bed nectar sources: purple coneflower, Sedum 'Autumn joy'

Courtesy of Monarch Watch

Clarksburg, MD

Latitude: 39.3 Longitude: -77.3

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