Date: 09/10/2015

Number: 1

One newly minted male (fresh, bright wings, no damage)flitting south--briefly visited red and pink pentas, cone flowers, and verbena. Weather--big change from days past that were hot--at 11 am 78 f, cloudy (rain forecast in late afternoon), very light breezes (a few ripples on the river.

I purchased the pentas recently because the drought in this area has greatly diminished my flowers (I was on vacation for two weeks in Aug. so the flower beds were not watered -- my arrangements to have them watered fell through at the last minute.)

The monarchs and other butterflies like my pentas, verbena, nepeta -walker's low, penstemon, althea (rose of sharon) bush, and cone flowers. I have also seen them in recent days on neighbors' butterfly bushes (my blue chip butterfly bushes have suffered from the drought and are nearly done blooming). To date I have only seen 4 monarchs here in VA, with 3 being males and one I couldn't sex. I am thrilled that the midwest seems to be having a better year.

I have tripled my milkweed plantings this year--16 plants now with 3 local native species--cannot wait to see what happens next spring. I observed two eggs and then catepillars on my swamp milkweed (Ice Ballet w/ white flowers)this year. Unfortunately I was away when the monarchs were due to emerge...I am hoping they make it to Mexico!)Thankyou everyone here for caring about our Monarchs.
Go Monarchs!!!

king george, VA

Latitude: 38.3 Longitude: -77.1

Observed by: jessica
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