Mother of Monarchs

09/25/2025

09/18/2025

Not a monarch but look at this gorgeous Eastern black swallow feasting on the zinnias! Zinnias are your best bet for pollinating plants and they're definitely the monarchs favorite! Super easy because as the flowers die and dry those are the seeds that you keep for next year every petal has a seed attached they look like a little Arrowhead I've got billions of seed and I literally just toss them in the dirt and barely cover them and they go wild everywhere I've got them growing all over the place and they will carry through right to the end of autumn giving our precious migrators something to feed on keep them nice and strong for their big Journey

09/18/2025

Well I have about 35 chrysalis and six more that are about to start thinking about J hooking soon... I've been dating my recent chrysalis and it looks like they're right on schedule at 14 days before eclosure now that the temperature has dropped... but just look at this dark little one I love the little dark ones

09/08/2025

Little minis chrysalis and little mini her darn self I should find a picture of me holding a regular butterfly the same way so you can see just how tiny she is not even an inch from her body to her wing tip but perfect in every way

09/08/2025

The tiniest Chrysalis I ever had smaller than my thumbnail more like the size of my baby now produce the most perfect little female butterfly she wasn't strong enough to let go in one day but after a couple of feedings she just like a shot good luck little minnie

09/08/2025

I just love watching my fatties AKA 5th instar monarch caterpillars going about their lunch which is all the time p**p eat p**p eat

09/06/2025

Silly cats

09/06/2025

Teeny tiniest chrysalis smaller than my thumbnail... made the teeniest tiniest little butterfly girl ever! I kept her over an extra day because she's so tiny and I just wasn't thrilled with her flying off in 90° wind yesterday

08/21/2025

Where to find eggs

08/21/2025

Tiny and perfect