I just keep snapping away in my little butterfly field, but getting the motivation to post is what's going to get me. I did see some newbies this week, but until I figure out what I did with my identification book, those will have to wait!!
Dos Lonely Boys, the two Monarch males that have been cruising our field for a couple of weeks now, were joined by a third bachelor this afternoon. I suppose I should feel lucky that we have these three, because there have been many complaints in the Facebook butterfly groups about the lateness of the Monarch's arrival this summer. That brings me back to the subject of the females...I know we've had one at some point, because four of the six caterpillars we found are now safely ensconced in their chrysalides. But was there just the one lady? Have there been more ladies that I didn't see, but something is getting the cats and eggs before I do? I suspect the latter, but until I refresh my research on good and bad bugs, I'm stuck with what we've got.
in the meantime, the last of the common milkweed flowers are about done with; but the weird, plain milkweed (I forget the name) is going strong. The butterfly weed and clover are going great guns, and the ironweed and Joe Pye weed are just starting to bloom. I need to get out there and knock down some of the dogbane and cockleburs before they get out of hand. If we decide to leave that front field as a habitat, I'd like to throw a few coneflower and other seeds out there for next year. I'm going to cut back a few of the larger milkweeds this weekend so we get a little regrowth in case of late hatchings; scouring back roads for sketchy late-season milkweed to feed hungry cats is no fun!!