Date: 03/18/2015

Number: 1

I am very eager to see the monarchs come back and begin the egg-laying, so I am keeping a close watch! So far, I have not seen any remigrant monarchs as of today, March 18, 2015.

We also do not have ANY milkweed sprouted and I have given it a pretty good search. I am expecting it any day ~~ hopefully up before the monarchs arrive. There is often a strange synchrony between the emergence of the milkweed and the arrival of the first monarchs. This always seems surprising and inexplicable in a rational light, but I have some hypotheses.

We do have an abundance of false garlic flowers (Nothoscordum bivalve) everywhere and this is a favorite nectar plant for the monarchs. The wild blackberry plants are also blooming just now and the monarchs often nectar from them as well. There are blooming trees around, such as redbuds and pear trees, that also provide a source of food. So the nectar sources are ready.

Our early March weather was sometimes freezing and also quite rainy. Then it became more mild and in the last two weeks we have been deluged with rain. So our land is saturated with water. We are expecting more rain over the next several days. Right now it is beautiful sunny day (75 degrees F) with cottony clouds in a blue, blue sky. A good day for monarchs, but no milkweed for them as of today.

I have only seen a few butterflies of other types so far as well, but the flying and crawling insects are starting to appear more and more, so spring is springing as usual.

I will be watching very closely at my home, but also as I drive about, to spot any monarchs and will report that to Journey North. Also, will report when I find the first milkweed.

Dobbin, TX

Latitude: 30.4 Longitude: -95.7

Observed by: Kathy
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