It was about this time of year that a Monarch showed up in my garden. This is a very minor route for them so she/he was a special joy to see.
I would move towards him as he fluttered above the zinnias. He would fly over the neighbor's raspberry jungle. I'd move away and he would come back. After two tries, I left him alone.
It would have been great if he could have just landed on my hand .
Very beautiful!!! The last few years have been great years for butterflies...I've seen more varieties and just more in numbers than in all the many years past.
I know that milkweed is the main food, or at least very important for Monarchs. Is asclepia (butterfly weed) also a food for Monarchs? Or mostly other types of butterflies?
I should really look this up and get the facts straight, but I should have left 25 minutes ago....
Anyway there is a type of milkweed, ( the common weed one I think is Asclepia syriaca ) that is a perennial and it's damaging to Monarchs somehow. I think it's something to do with the egg laying and pupae thing....
I think we need @Pulsegleaner 's help here!