Date: 03/19/2018

Number: 6

I went outside this morning to survey the damage from the hailstorm the night before ~ to see how the milkweed had fared. It was very sad to see many milkweed plants with their stalks broken, the crowns (buds) snapped off, and leaves damaged or missing. I knew that most of these milkweed plants had monarch eggs on them. I would estimate that about 25% of the milkweed plants sustained some harm.

I was very heartened to see 2 female monarchs egg-laying and a male sailing around at around 10:30 am. It was sunny, 72 degrees F, with a very light breeze and humidity of 26%. What a dramatic difference from the night before when strong winds, powerful thunder & lightning, and devastating hail came raining down. Our yard afterward was covered with round hailstones ~ many at the size of 1 1/4 inches. Our electricity was off for hours, our car and house roof damaged. So when I saw the monarchs this morning, I was so grateful that they were here and that they seemed okay ~ at least the ones I saw in that brief outing.

At 12:45pm I went outside again and walked down our driveway to check on the milkweed in the near ditches. So sad ... again broken stalks hanging or crowns and leaves completely missing. As I headed back to the house, my thoughts were that the monarchs would not want to be at a place where such devastation could happen. Just then a male monarch floated past on the soft breeze as if to say "it's okay...we'll carry on." He was so lovely in the sunlight!

I had another chance to go into the pastures for a short look around at 4:15 pm. Again, I was heartened to see a female and male monarch. The female was egg-laying and resting at times, while the male was sailing around over the milkweed areas ~ traveling by me several times as I looked at more of the milkweed and found some with damage and thankfully some unscathed.

This photo is of one of the female monarchs laying eggs in the morning sunlight ~ such a contrast to the night before and a bright, hopeful presence.

Montgomery, TX

Latitude: 30.4 Longitude: -95.8

Observed by: Kathy
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