Ohhh nooooooooooo! Not a pipevine! They eat the devil out of my Aristolochia gigantea every summer. The kicker is, they aren't supposed to eat it. Not good for them. I have to move them to another A. vine. Guess I need to figure out how to propagate the Aristolochia they like.
I think the Admiral will be heaven bound by tomorrow. Just too beat up to fly anymore. I shouldn't have intervened in Nature this morning....
I drove to the library early this morning and the book, The Butterfly's Daughter, was checked out! Hmmm....? I'm on the reserve list for it. I did find a book to read with my grandson. 'Great Migrations, Butterflies from Nat'l Geographic series by Laura Marsh. 'So it wasn't a wasted trip after all.
springcolor, I finally have the book you suggested, The Butterfly's Daughter. I had reserved it and it just came back to the library. I'm sure I'll enjoy it!
Haven't seen many monarchs here - bees have been happy! The peach tree I bought late last spring budded reallllly early so the bees were feasting away! Looks like I'll have quite the haul this year!
I also picked up some early tomato plants - blooms breaking out right and left - and it's still too early to plant them! ARGH! They're growing very crookedly in my kitchen window.
I haven't seen a single Monarch yet. Other butterflies, but not those. The Gulf Fritillaries apparently overwintered somehow. There's reports of Monarchs that overwintered in the recently done Mission in S.A. There's talk of "resident" Monarchs, but I don't think that will continue. Monarchs are year-round residents in South Florida because of its mild climate, but San Antonio doesn't have that kind of climate. In all the years I lived in San Antonio, there were none outside of migration periods.
I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad
If you get the chance to see the IMAX movie about the discovery of the Monarchs' Mexican destination, you should. It's in 3D, so you feel like they're flying around you. You want to reach out and touch them. Just a beautiful story.
It's only 40 minutes long. I'm going to take my 7 year old grandson. I think he'd enjoy it.
I wish there were such an organization closer to here. Austin is just not close enough..
I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad
Ever since I witnessed our oak trees covered in Monarchs one October afternoon ahead of a cold front, I've been fascinated by those butterflies. I look for them every year. We always see a few, but nothing like that October invasion.
@Bubbles, it wasn't an "invasion", per se , it was a gentle friendly visitation. They grace us with their presence !
On my bucket list is to travel to Michoacán, Mexico in November and witness trees covered in layers and layers of Monarchs, to the point where you can hear the loud whisper of their movements.
At our ranchiito we do NOT keep bees.
They and other critters grace us with their presence, and we provide for their need to the best of our abilities.
Wow! I'd like to see it! Although, I hear they have tons of tourists coming to that area and the large numbers cause problems.
I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad
Lavanda, your third and fifth photos are what our oak trees looked like. By morning, they were all gone.
Monarch presentation: So many people wanted to hear the speakers, they had to change the location to the Wildflower Center. The auditorium hold 280. I had signed up for the presentation by Catalina Aguado, John Christian, Bill Calvert and Lincoln Brower on Monday evening. Then they added a second evening lecture with Prof. Brower on Sunday. I decided to go to that one also. Both of the field trips along Barton Creek are filled already.
I don't see myself going back to Mexico anytime soon, so this will have to do.
When I win the lotto, I will charter a plane and take us all on a tour
At our ranchiito we do NOT keep bees.
They and other critters grace us with their presence, and we provide for their need to the best of our abilities.
Linda, the Monarchs have made it to San Antonio already. Hopefully, the cooler weather will slow them down a bit. We have milkweed, but the plants are so small. We don't usually get many Monarchs in the spring, and those tend to stay around a while. I don't think any "wintered" over here this year.
Today's dreary with a chance of sprinkles. The front blew through overnight. On its way to Houston by now. Tonight's the first Monarch presentation at the Wildflower Center. Should be a good one. Hope I can get some good photos.
it was a gentle friendly visitation. They grace us with their presence !
When I win the lotto, I will charter a plane and take us all on a tour 
