GardensJohn said:Orion,
Great pictures! I love Monarch butterflies! I grew up in Iowa and there were always Monarchs all over the place. Here I haven't seen any. But we do have the big yellow swallow tail butterflies. They are gorgeous too. Maybe we get one and not the other. Sure would like to see some Monarchs though!
We get more Monarchs in August, I think, as they migrate thousands of miles down to the south. They stop by in big numbers then to feast on my Marigolds (was a surprise to me that they love these) as well as the butterfly bushes and the occasional sniff of the rose of Sharon trees.
I tried to grow the milkweed plants with zero success. So they will have to make do with what I have (yes, the butterfly bushes are invasive in some areas but the butterflies and bees really really like them, I just cannot bring myself to yank them out).
We also get other types of butterflies, too, that I forget the names of. The big white stripey one who is very territorial, and the black one with blue specks. As well as the plain white one with a couple pale green dots on it.
Iowa sounds great. I have always wanted to visit, but never had an excuse to go. That and Kansas (this one because it is the home of Clark Kent/Superman).
