Thanks everybody !!! Here are some shots of the newly eclosed Monarchs
Daily Picture 84 started 12-11-10
They eclosed about half and hour ago. Here is the other one
And finally I saw a Sulphur fluttering and landing on the Sennia and lo and behold. We've got egss. The picture is not so clear but here it is.
I also have countless Gulf Fritillariesi nthe back munching on the Passionvine at different instars and some chrysalids and the Julias are coming back to the garden !!!!
Whoa! That did it!!! Frostweed, let's start packing. We're moving to Miami right away.
Last summer, still have over a foot of snow on ground here.
Roly, those are great pictures and such a breath of fresh air! We are awaiting our turn for spring to get here. Glad to know some of the Monarchs are already emerging in your area.
Here's a female Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis), one of several that have come to bait today. I'm moving things out of the greenhouse to get some nice sunshine and fresh air. Who know, maybe I'll be able to leave them out.
Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com
Looking up for spring!
I need to put out some more rotten fruit..
Saw another sulphur today. Didn't see my question mark again.
Okay, I'm STILL dreaming about butterflies. Think I'm a bit anxious? I had a dream that I saw a Mourning Cloak and was so happy to report that I'd seen my first butterfly of the season. LOL. I'm so weird. BUT speaking of which, last year i DID see a mourning cloak in late mach. It was the first butterfly of the year for me.
Did we eat spicy food before bed?
ha. No. Just reallllllyyyyyy wanting spring!
Well I was outside yesterday pulling weeds and this very tattered Mourning Cloak came fluttering by.
and one more sign of spring headed our way.....
I don't know what they were for sue, look like herons.
That just has to mean something Mrs. Ed!!
Well the weird thing was that some butterflies were feasting on suet! LOL. I'm getting my birds and butterflies mixed up.
Or not getting enough sleep! LOL!
Last week when it really warmed up here, we saw hundreds of geese flying north. Have never seen so many at one time. Now it is chilly and wet again. Well, it will slow the cherry blossoms down so they bloom for the Cherry Blossom Festival. Forsythia is blooming and the Japanese Magnolias. Redbuds and Crabapples are just budding out here.
There is nothing blooming here.....I want spring to show up!
I saw one...yes one Monarch flitting around in my back yard yesterday, but the wind was blowing so hard, that it couldn't stick around too long. It was interested in the milkweed, scouting a place to drop those eggs and begin the cycle again. I put out some butterfly bait on an old log I found, but haven't seen anything buzzing around it yet. We had a lot of freeze damage this winter along the Texas coast, but everything seems to be coming back nicely in my yard. Hopefully my passiflora will bloom this year (year 2) so i can get some of those Gulf Frittilaries around. I had some giant swallowtail cats on my citrus tree last year, but I never did find the chrysallis. The milkweed produced many queens and monarchs and my kids really enjoyed watching them change forms. I am moving toward more native plants as my garden transitions over the years. The information here and in DG in general has really shortened my learning curve. Thanks to all contributing members!
This is a pic of various stages from last year.
Russell
Great picture Russell...love the life cycle pictures of the Monarch. Like you my knowledge of all things garden really expanded when I found DG.
Lovely Russell. Glad to see some monarch activity starting down there.
I have a number of photos to post from a Butterfly Haven, so if you all don't mind, I'll start a new thread:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1165011/