Watching for a Butterfly

On the first of this month I noticed a monarch butterfly caterpillar on the Butterfly Weed.

It has been munching away steadily on seed pods and leaves. On the 3rd, I got pictures of a butterfly as well as the resident caterpillar.

Yesterday morning I saw the caterpillar still feeding and it better hurry up if it is to make its change before cold weather hits. We've had a couple of mornings in the low/mid 40's so far, so it is pushing the timing.

I haven't just been watching the caterpillar. I spent some time cleaning up the yard from some limbs that had come down, cutting stalks from lilies and yucca, and pulling up a couple of Blue Princess hollies that didn't make it thru the winter (the Prince survived - go figure). Took a decent load to the dump. That "stick" at the bottom left goes almost to the dashboard. Although thoroughly dead, it is thick enough that I couldn't get it to break and it wasn't worth getting the chainsaw out for one limb.

Although the gardens are slowing down, there are late bloomers of note. First is the Seet Autumn clematis. Too bad the willow tree had to come down because I planted it in that spot so it could climb the tree (the vine can get to be 10+ feet if supported). The bees were loving the flowers and the second shot shows one that has a load of pollen on its sides.

The colony of Turtle Heads is also blooming. And again, bees love them

The Autumn Fire sedum is getting closer to its full color

Lily of the Valley berries. They always surprise me as the appear so long after the flowers.

I am leaving this weed for the pollen and nectar feeders. I did see a hummingbird Wednesday or Thursday although they should be leaving the area soon.

Comments

[Cop Car]

Hmmm...it's been so long since I had Lillies of the Valley that I failed to recall that they produced berries. You reminded me that I want to plant some along the edges of the woods, here.

Well done on the Monarch situation. You did your part!

Tall, spindly trees are a challenge. I cut one down this week that wasn't more than 5" or 6" in diameter; but, when I finally got it to fall on the ground, it turned out that it had been entangled with the branches of the large trees - about 40 feet up. I had to saw that sucker into three pieces to stack it.

[Cop Car]

P.S. Your Autumn Fire is beautiful. Sadly, my Autumn Joy, although hanging in there, doesn't look that well.

[bogie]

Caterpillar was no where to be seen today. Couldn't find a chrysalis either. Can't imagine a bird getting it, so my guess would be that it crossed over to another plant to prepare for its change.