Date: 05/03/2018

Number: 1

While planting yet more milkweed, verbena and pale purple coneflower, I noticed a brightly colored, fresh-winged monarch on the holly bush. Sadly, I did not have my phone with me, so I was unable to get a picture.

The sighting occurred around 3:00 pm CT in bright sunshine. The temperature was 76 degrees and the wind was from the south at 10 mph gusting to 15 mph. Because I had been focused doing other things, I do not know if the monarch nectared while in the garden or left any eggs. In fact, I was unable to determine the monarch's sex. After approximately 60 seconds observing this beautiful visitor, he or she was gone.

Today's sighting was the second since 4-30-18 when a worn female with faded wings left her eggs on several of our milkweed plants. Today's sighting was clearly a newly-enclosed butterfly and a member of the first generation. We're ready for the monarchs with more than 20 milkweed plants and several great nectar plants that are in bloom, including one of their favorites, the cowpen daisy (Verbesina encelioides).

Oklahoma City, OK

Latitude: 35.6 Longitude: -97.6

Observed by: Denise
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