Date: 07/01/2014

Number: 1

Hooray! Greetings from Virginia's Eastern Shore! This morning I observed a female monarch busily laying eggs on my common milkweed. She was faded, but seemed strong as she flitted and searched for just the right leaves. My stand of common milkweed is rather thick and plants are very close together. She seemed "frantic" as she dashed and dipped trying to find young tender leaves. My stand is in full bloom and leaves are large and "tough" at this stage of their growth this time of the season. I have over 100 plants of the common back by the barn in our back yard and also swamp milkweed and butterfly weed in my flower beds. As I was watching, she seemed so anxious and determined, as always, when it's "time" to deposit the eggs, and the first place I saw her actually "land" was a tiny young plant about 6 inches tall where she placed 2 eggs! Hoping this rather early sighting is a good sign we will have more this year as last season was a complete disappointment as the numbers of these lovely creatures was so low! (As I saw eggs also, I suppose this report can count in that category, too.) Last summer was so sad...after 20 years of doing this, not to have ANY! So...Hooray, Indeed!

Onley, VA

Latitude: 37.7 Longitude: -75.7

Observed by: Ann
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